News / National
Residents urge funeral parlours to help BCC improve cemeteries
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Residents of Bulawayo have issued a passionate plea to funeral parlours operating in the city to partner with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) in restoring and maintaining the city's deteriorating cemeteries.
Speaking during an interview yesterday, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) provincial secretary for administration, Thabani Ndlovu, expressed concern over the state of local cemeteries, calling them an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city's image.
"At the moment, our cemeteries are in a sorry state. For example, Hyde Park Cemetery has no fencing to protect the area from intruders and vandalism," Ndlovu said. "The road leading to Luveve Cemetery is also in poor condition. Yet funeral parlours operate daily in these spaces and make a lot of money from their services. It is only fair that they give back to the community by helping to improve and preserve these final resting places."
Ndlovu added that the involvement of funeral parlours in cemetery upkeep would not only reflect social responsibility but would also enhance the dignity and respect deserved by the departed.
He also raised cultural concerns, criticising the growing trend of food vending and refuse dumping within cemetery grounds.
"We urge residents to embrace our African culture and desist from selling food in cemeteries. It goes against our traditions and disrespects the dead," he said. "We also appeal to the city council to introduce strict penalties for those caught dumping litter in burial grounds."
Echoing similar sentiments, Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson Winos Dube called on the local authority to prioritise the upkeep of cemeteries while working closely with private players in the funeral industry.
"The state of our cemeteries has reduced the dignity of our city," Dube said. "We appeal to funeral parlours to work hand-in-hand with the council to restore these spaces, which are sacred and deserve proper maintenance."
Cemeteries such as Hyde Park, Luveve, and West Park have long suffered from neglect, with overgrown vegetation, broken fences, dilapidated roads, and lack of proper signage becoming common complaints among mourners and residents.
With limited council resources and increasing demand for burial space, residents argue that a public-private partnership involving funeral homes could be a practical and sustainable solution.
As calls grow louder for action, residents hope that funeral parlours will step up and collaborate with the city council to restore dignity and cultural sensitivity to Bulawayo's cemeteries.
Speaking during an interview yesterday, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) provincial secretary for administration, Thabani Ndlovu, expressed concern over the state of local cemeteries, calling them an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city's image.
"At the moment, our cemeteries are in a sorry state. For example, Hyde Park Cemetery has no fencing to protect the area from intruders and vandalism," Ndlovu said. "The road leading to Luveve Cemetery is also in poor condition. Yet funeral parlours operate daily in these spaces and make a lot of money from their services. It is only fair that they give back to the community by helping to improve and preserve these final resting places."
Ndlovu added that the involvement of funeral parlours in cemetery upkeep would not only reflect social responsibility but would also enhance the dignity and respect deserved by the departed.
He also raised cultural concerns, criticising the growing trend of food vending and refuse dumping within cemetery grounds.
"We urge residents to embrace our African culture and desist from selling food in cemeteries. It goes against our traditions and disrespects the dead," he said. "We also appeal to the city council to introduce strict penalties for those caught dumping litter in burial grounds."
Echoing similar sentiments, Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson Winos Dube called on the local authority to prioritise the upkeep of cemeteries while working closely with private players in the funeral industry.
"The state of our cemeteries has reduced the dignity of our city," Dube said. "We appeal to funeral parlours to work hand-in-hand with the council to restore these spaces, which are sacred and deserve proper maintenance."
Cemeteries such as Hyde Park, Luveve, and West Park have long suffered from neglect, with overgrown vegetation, broken fences, dilapidated roads, and lack of proper signage becoming common complaints among mourners and residents.
With limited council resources and increasing demand for burial space, residents argue that a public-private partnership involving funeral homes could be a practical and sustainable solution.
As calls grow louder for action, residents hope that funeral parlours will step up and collaborate with the city council to restore dignity and cultural sensitivity to Bulawayo's cemeteries.
Source - Southern Eye
