Mourners told to limit cemetery burials to 1 hour

Bulawayo residents have been urged to strictly observe cemetery burial booking timeframes in order to decongest burial sites and prevent clashes, amid reports that some funeral parlours were harassing mourners when ceremonies exceeded the allocated time.

Director of Health Services, Dr Edwin Mzingwane, said there was consensus between councillors and city management that strict adherence to burial schedules was necessary.

Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou stressed that families should not exceed an hour for burials. She said most speeches and tributes should be conducted at church services to allow smooth scheduling at cemeteries.
"On average, a burial must not exceed one hour at the cemetery. Families are encouraged to adhere to the booked times. Most of the speeches should be done during church services," Mrs Zhou said, as quoted in the city's MasiyePhambili weekly newsletter.

Ward 10 Councillor Khalazani Ndlovu echoed the call, noting that delays often disrupted other funerals, resulting in clashes.
"Residents should be encouraged to start burial programmes very early to accommodate all the speakers and last rites that families may want. Clashes of times at cemeteries should be avoided," she said.

Councillor Royini Sekete, however, raised concern that some ceremonies were being rushed, and suggested that burials begin earlier in the day to give families adequate time.

Under Bulawayo's by-laws, no burials are permitted after 1PM.

Council figures show that 480 burials were conducted across eight cemeteries in June, with five cremations recorded during the same period. Luveve Extension recorded the highest number of burials at 249, while Lady Stanley and Hyde Park each recorded one burial. Other cemeteries included Umvutshwa with 136 burials, Luveve Old with 74, Athlone with six, West Park with nine, and Luveve Number 3 with four.