Bulawayo Mayor castigates proposal for a new private cemetery

BULAWAYO mayor Councillor Martin Moyo has castigated a proposal to have a new private cemetery in the city, saying it was outrageous and would affect the value of land and buildings in the suggested area, Sunday News can reveal.

In an interview, Clr Moyo said he received a petition against the idea from the residents of Trenance and Northlyn, who are close to the proposed cemetery.

"It is very outrageous to have a cemetery in a residential area where one has neighbours whose concerns should be heard. This proposal affects a number of things if accepted. I am afraid I have to frown at the issue because a cemetery is just out of question," said Clr Moyo.

"I received a petition in my office from people who are against the idea and I am looking into it. The matter is still under investigation as neighbours have opposed it which I find rational as it is not a pleasant thing to have a cemetery next to your place of residence."

Councillors debated the application for the establishment of a private cemetery measuring about 100 acres during a full council meeting last week but had to defer the matter for further discussion in a closed session as they had reached a deadlock.

According to a council report, Ms Elizabeth Magdelene Dubois had submitted an application to establish a private cemetery where she plans to accommodate at least 100 000 graves.

"It was the applicant's intention to develop the whole stand into a cemetery and approximately 100 000 graves were envisaged to be provided. From a town planning point of view, there were no objections to the proposal which had been circulated to other municipal departments and no adverse comments had been received," reads part of the report.

The area is, however, zoned for the establishment of residential stands.

The chairperson of the residents association, Mrs Madade Magura, said they were not consulted on the proposal.

"We did not receive any communication from the city council that there was a cemetery that was going to be established in our area. We were surprised to find graders clearing the land and that's when we asked and we were told that a cemetery was being established much to our surprise," said Mrs Magura.

She said the council claimed that they had sent letters to the surrounding neighbours to hear their comments on the proposal but all neighbours said they never received any letters, save for one resident who castigated council.

According to documents that the Sunday News is in possession of, Ann Kennedy responded saying the gesture was inappropriate in a residential suburb especially when they did not receive any communication making the council's report an untrue reflection of the will of the people.

She said the cemetery would affect the value of their properties as house seekers would not buy where there is a gravesite.

"Having a cemetery on the borders of our properties will devalue our properties and our house is directly opposite the grave site which is not a nice view. We will be subjected to hearing people crying daily, which a normal person doesn't want to experience," reads part of the letter.

Residents said plots in that area were being used for either market gardening or gardening for self consumption and they had no idea on the state of the water table, therefore they felt that for the purposes of hygiene and health reasons, the cemetery should not be considered.

They also said cemeteries attract flies and even a certain stench which they did not want to live with. Residents also said with the state of roads in the area, they shudder to imagine the condition of the roads after a few funeral processions.

Secretary for the residents association Mrs Louisa Mangisi said the proposed site had a booming vegetable garden which locals say they were benefiting from.

The chairperson of the Bulawayo United Residents Association, Mr Winos Dube, said the idea of having a cemetery in a residential area was not noble and that the council should consider the views of the residents.

"The views of the people need to be considered and the fact that they were not consulted is also worrying. If you have title deeds to your piece of land, it does not give you permission to put whatever you want in your yard," he said.

He pleaded with the local authority to consider the views of the people in Trenance and Northlyn.

The mayor said when one has land, they are supposed to apply for special consent to change the intended use of the land to their desired wish.

"When you own land, say a residential stand, and you want to change it to a lodge or anything, you have to apply to the city council on your intended land use and we agree or disagree and your neighbours also have to be informed and they have their say. You are not free to just do whatever you want with your land," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bulawayo City Council will soon establish a new cemetery site at Lower Rangemore to add on to the present sites, which are now almost filled up.