Bulawayo fast running out of burial space

THE Bulawayo City Council is mulling plans to offer cremation free of charge to make it more acceptable to residents, as the city is fast running out of burial space.

The local authority is facing stiff resistance from residents who maintain that burning the body of a loved one is against cultural beliefs.

According to the latest council report, when councillors debated on the dwindling burial space, Councillor Silas Chigora of Ward 4 suggested that cremation could be made free to overcome resistance.

"A positive way to change the people's perceptions on this matter would be making cremation services cheaper, or even provide these free of charge," said Clr Chigora.

Ward 19's Councillor Clyton Zana was of the opinion that cremation should be an individual's choice.

"The concept of cremation should be sold to the community particularly the younger generation. People should be encouraged to write wills and specify such choices," said Clr Zana.

Concurring, Councillors Mlandu Ncube of Ward 1 and Thobani Ncube of Ward 23 noted that burial space was fast running out.

Clr Mlandu Ncube said: "In view of this there is all the need to encourage cremation. Council should engage the community at local level through burial societies, beer halls, community gatherings and explain the benefits of cremation.

"Currently culture is heavily biased against cremation and a concerted educational campaign is necessary to the change that mind set."

Ward 26's Clr Norman Hlabani also agreed with the suggestion but felt that only the future generations would be more receptive to the idea.

He said the present generations regarded this as a sensitive issue and would find it very difficult to accept.

Contacted for comment, renowned historian and cultural activist Pathisa Nyathi, said council faced an uphill task in trying to change people's attitudes.

"They should refine their approach. If they simply target attitudes or behaviour regarding cremation, they may fight long and hard, without results. The problem stems from culture, which brings about the attitudes and behaviour.

"They must work at bringing about a change in people's system of beliefs and culture. They would need patience because it will take time to reverse centuries of practices that have been passed down from ancestors," said Nyathi.

He said generally Africans do not believe there is life beyond the grave.

"They believe if someone dies, their spirit can be brought back to protect those who are still alive. This is done 12 months after the death of the person. Soil from the person's grave is used in a ritual called umbuyiso. Cremation precludes the issue of getting soil from a grave and is therefore unattractive to traditional Africans," said Nyathi.

He said some people, who had adopted western culture, still found cremation unpalatable because they felt the body was being hurt, as if it was still alive, when it was being burnt.

Said Nyathi: "Some Africans who have adopted Christianity associate burning a body with burning in hellfire. They then resist cremation on those grounds."

Nyathi said tradition was ingrained in people and was not as easy to change as material culture, which includes western dressing.

A pastor at a pentecostal church said true Christians should not have reservations about cremation.

"The Bible says those who have died know nothing. It then follows that what happens to their earthly bodies ceases to have meaning. Romans 14 verse 8 says: 'If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord'. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Cremation therefore is an earthly choice that has no bearing in heaven," said the pastor.