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Municipal Reporter
Rogue City of Harare employees are allegedly charging families a US$20 “fine” if they are late in bringing bodies for burial at municipal cemeteries.City council has denied the claims made by Mabvuku residents and the Harare Residents Trust.
Residents say city workers force them to pay the unreceipted “fines” if they arrive for burials after an approved time slot. However, Harare corporate communications manager Mr Leslie Gwindi said: “The city fully understands that logistical and family problems may slightly delay arrival of funeral corteges at final resting places.
“It is through that realisation that our employees manning the cemeteries are paid overtime. Once we have allocated a burial slot it means we have accepted the responsibility of ensuring that burial takes place.”
He said those who had been charged the “fines” should come forward and help council identify the employees who had swindled them of their money.
Mr Gwindi said the fact that no receipts were being issued showed that the practice was corrupt and families seeking to bury their loved ones must refuse to pay.
He added: “We are also not happy with relatives who are hiring city employees to spruce individual graves again for a fee. The public is discouraged from such practices.”
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