Bulawayo school children use cemeteries as a bee line

In Bulawayo's Old Magwegwe suburb, schoolchildren as young as four are forced to walk daily through the overgrown and neglected Pelandaba Cemetery to reach their homes in nearby Pelandaba West. This dusty, unsafe trail has become the shortest route connecting two primary schools-Magwegwe Primary and Ntshamathe Primary-to the surrounding communities, but its condition is causing alarm among residents.

Elderly resident Elma Sibanda, who has lived in Old Magwegwe for over 60 years, expressed deep cultural and safety concerns. "I remember when the cemetery was a sacred place, only visited for burials or tombstone unveilings," she said. "Now, little children walk through it every day, passing by graves that are overrun with tall grass and snakes could be hiding there."

A recent visit by the Saturday Chronicle revealed waist-high grass choking pathways, stolen perimeter fencing, and graves left in disrepair, all painting a picture of abandonment. Residents fear the unsafe environment poses risks to children who use the cemetery as a shortcut.

An anonymous Bulawayo City Council (BCC) employee said the council is responsible only for general maintenance such as grass cutting after the rainy season, but lamented a lack of tools and resources to properly care for Pelandaba Cemetery.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu acknowledged the challenges the council faces in maintaining cemeteries, attributing much of the degradation to vandalism by residents who steal fencing and damage infrastructure. "Cemetery infrastructure belongs to the city and should be protected by all," he stressed.

Limited funds remain a major hurdle for upkeep. "Ideally, funds would be allocated to maintain cemeteries after rains to clear overgrown vegetation, but resources are scarce," Ndlovu added.

The deteriorating state of burial sites is not unique to Pelandaba. Councillors recently raised concerns over graves at Luveve Cemetery being washed away by heavy rains, exposing coffins. Ward 15 Councillor Ashton Mhlanga called for urgent public awareness campaigns to discourage illegal vending and improve burial procedures to preserve dignity.

BCC Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou urged the public to respect cemeteries and discouraged vending, eating, and fouling at these sacred places, highlighting the importance of Ubuntu values.

In response to vandalism and theft, the council announced plans to replace traditional fencing with an indigenous hedge known as ingotsha, which is resilient even in dry seasons, to protect cemeteries like Luveve.

Meanwhile, the absence of secure fencing at Luveve has allowed roaming livestock-donkeys and goats from nearby villages-to trample graves, further compounding the problem.

As children continue to navigate unsafe paths through neglected cemeteries, residents and authorities face mounting pressure to restore these sacred spaces, ensuring both cultural respect and community safety.