Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
BULAWAYO families laying loved ones to rest have been told to keep burials short and sweet as council cracks the whip on cemetery chaos.
The city’s health director Dr Edwin Mzingwane said councillors and management had reached a consensus that mourners must respect booking slots to decongest cemeteries and avoid ugly scenes.
The stern reminder comes after reports that some funeral parlours were harassing mourners when rival groups delayed at gravesides, sparking tensions in cemeteries already stretched to the limit.
Chamber secretary Mrs Sikhangele Zhou said families should not exceed an hour at the graveside.
“On average a burial must not exceed one hour at the cemetery. Most of the speeches should be done during church services,” she said in council’s latest MasiyePhambili newsletter.
Ward 10 councillor Khalazani Ndlovu warned that delays were causing clashes between funeral processions.
“Residents should be encouraged to start burial programmes very early to accommodate all speakers and rites. Clash of times at cemeteries should be avoided,” she said.
Cllr Royini Sekete added that some burials were being rushed and urged families to start earlier in the day to respect by-laws, which ban burials after 1PM.
Council revealed that 480 burials took place in June across eight city cemeteries, while five bodies were cremated. Luveve Extension was the busiest with 249 burials, followed by Umvutshwa with 136. Lady Stanley and Hyde Park cemeteries recorded just one burial each.
