Ministers' offices built at cemetry

The Public Works complex in Gwanda town that houses offices of  minister of state for Matabeleland South province, Abedinico Ncube and provincial administrator Midard Khumalo were built on a cemetery, it has been revealed.

The complex was constructed in the 80s.

Speaking on the occasion of his farewell party at Gwanda district club Friday, outgoing Gwanda town clerk Gilbert Mlilo said construction of the complex was almost abandoned as the community felt it was taboo to have the building erected on a graveyard.

"One of the challenges l faced was when the Governors offices were being built and when excavations were done human bones were discovered. We then learnt that the place was a cemetery but no one seemed to know the people buried there.

The community was resisting the move and were bitter about the discoveries that construction was almost abandoned," said Mlilo.

However he said after much deliberations it was finally agreed that the remains would be reburied.
"As council we had to buy opaque beer and snuff and elders were summoned to perform a ritual to appease the spirits. We had argued this could not stand on the way of development," Mlilo.

Mlilo aged 66 joined council in 1988 and presided as the administrator for 26 years.