Bulawayo rakes in over $200,000 from burials

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) raked in more than $200 000 through selling of burial space at local cemeteries where 4 709 bodies were buried last year.

Of the people who were buried at local cemeteries, 1 233 were children under the age of 12.

Responding to questions from The Chronicle, BCC senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said council offered pauper burials to 168 people.

She said council realised $206 029 from selling burial space.

Council charges $47 to bury adults and $41 to bury children.

Mrs Mpofu said council will soon start attending to graves that had collapsed due to heavy rains.

"Collapsing of graves is primarily caused by soil subsiding after heavy rains and this year heavy rains were experienced leading to more graves collapsing.

Council has the responsibility of backfilling the collapsed graves. Council is currently making preparations to fill the graves following the subsiding of heavy rains," said Mrs Mpofu.

Bulawayo United Residents' Association chairman Mr Winos Dube said residents were concerned about lack of proper maintenance at cemeteries.

"It's an area of concern that must be given much attention. We have raised that with the council on several platforms. If graves are collapsing it raises even health concerns. We strongly appeal to the council to move fast in addressing this," he said.

Mr Dube said even the relatives of deceased persons should take it upon themselves to ensure that graves of their loved ones are in a respectable condition.
"The residents should also come forward to refill the graves of their relatives," said Mr Dube.