News / National
Zimbabwe police uncover massive graveyards scam
06 Dec 2024 at 17:04hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has uncovered a shocking case of grave violations at Restland Memorial Park in Rainham, Harare, where approximately 380 graves and corpses were desecrated between 2015 and 2024.
Four suspects-Edwin Muronzi, Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19), and Kudakwashe Humure (21)-have been arrested in connection with the scandal. Police are now searching for additional suspects identified only as Kevy, Shumba, and Dread.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests, revealing that the investigation began after Tinashe Chiguma reported experiencing visions of dead people questioning the whereabouts of their relatives. Chiguma implicated his employer, Edwin Muronzi, and the other suspects, leading to their apprehension.
"Investigations revealed that Edwin Muronzi employed grave diggers, including the suspects and others who are still at large, paying them between US$15 and US$20 per grave," said Comm Nyathi.
The grave diggers were instructed to exhume graves to make room for new burials. They would encounter human skeletal remains, which they allegedly packed in cement bags and wrapped in burial clothes before dumping them in a trench or dam behind the cemetery. Traditional artifacts buried with the deceased were also discarded.
Muronzi and his team reportedly cleaned and rearranged the desecrated graves, reselling them to unsuspecting clients for new burials.
Forensic experts are working to identify the tampered graves and the exhumed remains, with the aim of tracing relatives and mapping the disposal sites.
Comm Nyathi called for public assistance in tracking down the remaining suspects. "The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information leading to the arrest of the outstanding suspects," he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, WhatsApp 0712800197, or report to their nearest police station.
The disturbing revelations have left the public and authorities shaken, with families of those buried at Restland Memorial Park demanding justice for the desecration of their loved ones.
Four suspects-Edwin Muronzi, Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19), and Kudakwashe Humure (21)-have been arrested in connection with the scandal. Police are now searching for additional suspects identified only as Kevy, Shumba, and Dread.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests, revealing that the investigation began after Tinashe Chiguma reported experiencing visions of dead people questioning the whereabouts of their relatives. Chiguma implicated his employer, Edwin Muronzi, and the other suspects, leading to their apprehension.
"Investigations revealed that Edwin Muronzi employed grave diggers, including the suspects and others who are still at large, paying them between US$15 and US$20 per grave," said Comm Nyathi.
The grave diggers were instructed to exhume graves to make room for new burials. They would encounter human skeletal remains, which they allegedly packed in cement bags and wrapped in burial clothes before dumping them in a trench or dam behind the cemetery. Traditional artifacts buried with the deceased were also discarded.
Muronzi and his team reportedly cleaned and rearranged the desecrated graves, reselling them to unsuspecting clients for new burials.
Forensic experts are working to identify the tampered graves and the exhumed remains, with the aim of tracing relatives and mapping the disposal sites.
Comm Nyathi called for public assistance in tracking down the remaining suspects. "The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information leading to the arrest of the outstanding suspects," he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631, WhatsApp 0712800197, or report to their nearest police station.
The disturbing revelations have left the public and authorities shaken, with families of those buried at Restland Memorial Park demanding justice for the desecration of their loved ones.
Source - The Herald
