Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
CHIEF Chamutsa, of Buhera District, has banned alcohol consumption during funerals in areas under his jurisdiction in a bid to restore respect for the dead and curb disorderly conduct among mourners.
Chief Tinotenda Garepi Mavhurudza, who assumed the chieftainship on April 7, 2026, announced the prohibition through headmen and village heads across his jurisdiction, arguing that drunken behaviour during funerals was disrespecting the dead and fuelling avoidable conflicts among mourners.
The by-law will serve as a warning for three weeks after its announcement on August 6, with full enforcement and penalties effective from August 27, 2026.
Traditional leaders are tasked to enforce compliance and report violations.
Under the new regulation, titled “By-law for Buhera for Respect of Funeral Proceedings” dated August 6, 2026 – consuming alcohol at a bereaved homestead or gravesite; bringing, selling or distributing alcohol and other intoxicating substances at a funeral; and fighting, exchanging insults or disrupting prayers and eulogies – are all banned.
No alcohol will be permitted until burial is complete.
Bereaved families are required to ensure that no alcohol is brought into their homesteads during a funeral, while headmen and village heads must monitor proceedings and educate mourners on the new regulation.
Possession of alcohol at a funeral will attract a fine of US$30 or a goat, while fighting or disrupting funeral proceedings will attract a court fee and fine of US$50.
“We, as Chief Chamutsa’s court, are deeply concerned and disturbed by repeated acts of disrespect and disorder during funerals in our area. We feel that people have lost respect for the dead, as dictated by our cultural norms. People are fighting at funerals and the bereaved are being abused. It is against this background that we are enacting this new by-law to preserve the dignity of the deceased, restore respect for funerals, allow the bereaved to be consoled in peace, and maintain general peace in the community under Chief Chamutsa, Buhera District.
“1. This is meant to restore our cultural values and norms relating to respect for the dead. 2. This is also meant to prevent fighting and quarrelling at funerals. 3. We are doing this to promote peaceful burials of our loved ones and to allow us to commiserate with the bereaved in peace and harmony.
“Part 2: What is disallowed: Consumption of alcohol at a homestead where there is a funeral or at the gravesite. Bringing or selling alcohol and all other intoxicating substances at a funeral. Fighting, scolding each other, or disturbing those praying or delivering eulogies at a funeral. We must all remember that alcohol will strictly not be allowed until the deceased has been buried.
“Part 3: Expected individual roles: The family of the deceased must ensure that no alcohol is brought into their homestead when they have a funeral. Headmen and village heads must monitor the surroundings and ensure that no alcohol is consumed at funerals. They must also remind people about this new regulation.
“Part 4: Punishment: Anyone found guilty of violating this by-law will be punished as follows:
Being found in possession of alcohol at a funeral will attract a US$30 fine or a goat. Fighting or disturbing funeral proceedings will attract a court fee as well as a US$50 fine.
“Part 5: Warning time frame: In the first three weeks after the announcement of this new by-law, it will be used as a period of strong warning and education. After August 27, 2026, we will then issue punishments for offenders as set out above. We wish to inform all that we are now in the era of this new by-law and we will not tolerate any acts of sabotage or disregard for it. Let us respect our departed relatives and friends as our cultural norms and values demand,” reads the new by-law in full.
Chief Chamutsa confirmed the issuance of the new by-law which has gone viral on social media platforms.
“This is a serious matter that requires serious corrective decisions and action. We are witnessing abominable things at funerals. For example, at a recent funeral, one family member went on a drinking binge with friends only to return when people were already burying the deceased. In their drunken stupor, they ordered those burying the deceased to exhume the body and dig a new grave simply because he did not want that particular burial place. They were so violent that a new grave had to be dug close to the same area where the other grave had already been dug. Such conduct is unacceptable,” he said.
Acting Manicaland Provincial Director for Local Government Services and Administration, Mr John Misi, refused to comment, saying he was not privy to the new development.
“It is difficult to comment since we are not officially privy to what is happening.”
Legal expert, Mr Passmore Nyakureba, a partner at Maunga Maanda and Associates, said it is above board for traditional leaders to ban the consumption of alcohol during funerals, as it is a cultural issue that differs from area to area.
“Yes, he can do that. There may be different reasons for that. In some areas people do not consume alcohol during funerals, in others they do. So it all depends on the regulations in a given area. At the end of the day, it is a cultural issue,” said Mr Nyakureba.
