Business / Local
Burials boost Harare council coffers
04 Dec 2016 at 23:08hrs | Views
Harare City Council raked in close to $800 000 from the dead through the sale of graves last year.
Council recorded 6 355 burials generating $770 132 in the process as demand for graves reportedly far surpasses the available burial space.
"The cemeteries recorded a total of 6 355 burials and revenue for all cemeteries was $770 132," council's 2015 annual report of the Department of Housing and Community Services indicate.
According to the report, Warren Hills Cemetery has since been shut down.
A new cemetery at Eyerstone Residential Estate measuring 150 hectares is due to be commissioned for burials before the end of the year.
In February, it was reported that Warren Hills cemetery remaining 7,2 hectares are reserved for Zanu PF provincial heroes.
Harare's education, health, housing and community services committee confirmed the developments, which were approved during a special council meeting.
"The committee resolved to recommend that council notes the closure of Warren Hills cemetery and reserves the remaining serviced land for Harare province heroes' cemetery uses," the committee said in February.
Only Zanu PF supporters have been declared provincial heroes and buried at the Warren Hills cemetery over the years.
Council also resolved to have a precast wall erected along the Bulawayo road side of Warren Hills cemetery.
According to a report by the acting director of housing and community development, Warren Hills cemetery had 7,2 hectares of serviced land remaining for immediate burials.
The land available, the committee noted, was on the hillside of the cemetery and expensive to service and develop, therefore, not immediately available for burial.
Harare has limited burial space, with Warren Hills, Mbudzi and Mabvuku being the popular ones for ordinary residents.
Of the nine cemeteries in Harare, only four where still operational at the start of the year while five are closed among them Greendale, Pioneer, Highfield, Mbare and Dzivarasekwa.
Council recorded 6 355 burials generating $770 132 in the process as demand for graves reportedly far surpasses the available burial space.
"The cemeteries recorded a total of 6 355 burials and revenue for all cemeteries was $770 132," council's 2015 annual report of the Department of Housing and Community Services indicate.
According to the report, Warren Hills Cemetery has since been shut down.
A new cemetery at Eyerstone Residential Estate measuring 150 hectares is due to be commissioned for burials before the end of the year.
In February, it was reported that Warren Hills cemetery remaining 7,2 hectares are reserved for Zanu PF provincial heroes.
Harare's education, health, housing and community services committee confirmed the developments, which were approved during a special council meeting.
Only Zanu PF supporters have been declared provincial heroes and buried at the Warren Hills cemetery over the years.
Council also resolved to have a precast wall erected along the Bulawayo road side of Warren Hills cemetery.
According to a report by the acting director of housing and community development, Warren Hills cemetery had 7,2 hectares of serviced land remaining for immediate burials.
The land available, the committee noted, was on the hillside of the cemetery and expensive to service and develop, therefore, not immediately available for burial.
Harare has limited burial space, with Warren Hills, Mbudzi and Mabvuku being the popular ones for ordinary residents.
Of the nine cemeteries in Harare, only four where still operational at the start of the year while five are closed among them Greendale, Pioneer, Highfield, Mbare and Dzivarasekwa.
Source - Byo24News
