Bulawayo Council's cemetery excuses can't bury their neglect

Today's Saturday Chronicle highlights a distressing reality: young schoolchildren, some barely toddlers, are forced to walk through the overgrown and dilapidated Pelandaba Cemetery in Bulawayo on their way home. This troubling image sheds light on the severe neglect of what should be a sacred space and underscores the hazardous choices imposed on some of the city's most vulnerable residents.

Once a hallowed resting place, Pelandaba Cemetery now stands as a stark symbol of abandonment. Waist-high grass, broken fences, and neglected graves create a dangerous environment, potentially harboring snakes and other threats for unsuspecting children. The suggestion from an anonymous Bulawayo City Council (BCC) employee that upkeep of individual graves is solely the responsibility of relatives misses the broader point. The council bears a fundamental duty to maintain the cemetery grounds, including clearing grass and securing the perimeter.

The council's admitted lack of equipment and resources to maintain Pelandaba is no excuse - it is a damning indictment of municipal governance. Deputy Mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu's claim that "widespread vandalism perpetrated by residents" is to blame rings hollow when juxtaposed with such glaring neglect. While vandalism is a genuine concern that needs addressing, it cannot be wielded as a blanket justification for the council's repeated failure to safeguard vital public spaces.

Recent heavy rains exposed graves at Luveve Cemetery, revealing the shocking consequences of poor maintenance - a scenario that should alarm any responsible authority into urgent action. Meanwhile, the council's new plan to plant ingotsha hedges in place of fences may be a positive long-term vision, but it falls short of addressing the immediate risks of unsecured cemeteries where roaming livestock violate cultural taboos and threaten public safety.

Calls for residents to protect infrastructure and uphold community dignity are justified. However, these calls must be matched by tangible efforts from the council to demonstrate its commitment to restoring and maintaining these sacred spaces.

The time has come for the Bulawayo City Council to move beyond excuses and take decisive action. The dignity of the deceased, the safety of children, and the cultural values of the community demand urgent prioritization of resources and a clear, actionable plan for cemetery maintenance.

Cemeteries are more than burial grounds; they are living testaments to respect for the past and commitments to the welfare of present and future generations. The current state of neglect is simply unacceptable and calls for immediate intervention.