Bulawayo residents say no to cremation proposal

BULAWAYO residents have expressed concern over the proposal by the Bulawayo City Council to cremate deceased children aged 10 years and below describing it as taboo in the Zimbabwean culture.

The new system is supposed to start this year with the local authority saying it was going to intensify campaigns to ensure residents appreciate the idea. The idea came about to ease burial space shortages.

The council's public relations officer, Miss Bongiwe Ngwenya, said the council was working out on intensifying campaigns aimed at educating residents to appreciate cremation.

"Before the implementation of the resolution, we will be carrying out community awareness campaigns to familiarise the residents with the idea of cremation."

Residents have, however, raised a red flag saying the system was alien to Zimbabwe apart from a few isolated local cases where the deceased would have requested to be cremated before death.

A survey conducted by the Sunday News revealed that most residents are sceptical about the proposal.

In an interview with Sunday News Zanu-PF Politburo member and cultural enthusiast Cde Absalom Sikhosana said it was devastating to hear such a proposal and described it as culturally wrong as cremation does not qualify as burial with dignity.

"It is taboo (kuyazila). While I cannot say what could be the view of the concerned family, it is given that traditionally people cannot be cremated. Regardless of age the fact that a child was born it makes him/her a person who deserves to be buried. I strongly disagree with cremation," said Cde Sikhosana.

He added that in as much as he understood that the council was trying to find a solution due to space constraints, cremation was unacceptable in the African culture.

He said: "Cremation is no different from burning someone and Biblically, the only place where one is expected to be burnt is in hell after Judgment. Who are we to burn someone? The council must try to find other places or even reopen graves and encourage burying spouses in the same grave as that will save the same purpose of preserving space. I believe it's better than cremation."

A youth, Prince Malinga shared the same sentiments with Cde Sikhosana saying cremation was not part of Zimbabwean culture unless if someone requests being cremated before they die. The relatives would do it as part of honouring the wishes of the dead.

Another Bulawayo resident who identified herself as Mrs Dube said such practices should be observed in countries where they were culturally accepted. However, a Mr Nilson of Swedish origin had a different opinion saying it was the body that dies but the spirit would be alive. He said cremation and burying were the same but he strongly supports cremation as it saves space.

"What is important is the funeral and the memory of the deceased. For the sake of trying to compromise with the current gravesite shortage, cremation is the best option. Countries like India cremate on a daily basis but one cannot say that it causes calamities for them. Moreover as a Christian I believe that once one dies, their body means nothing, it is the spirit that counts, so cremating is not really a violation."