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Vusumuzi Dube Municipal Reporter
IT’S hard to get a residential stand in Bulawayo during one’s lifetime but soon it will be even harder to find space to rest during the afterlife.
The city is only left with enough burial space for three months.Although a new burial site has been identified in Pumula South, nothing has been done to prepare the new cemetery.
The city has seven cemetery sites, namely Old Luveve, Luveve Extension, Luveve 3, Hyde Park, West Park, Lady Stanley and Athlone Avenue but with a death rate of about 400 people per month, all cemeteries will soon be full.
Currently, only West Park and Luveve Extension have burial space, while most graves at Lady Stanely have already been booked.
The latest revelations were made during a full council meeting held at the Council Chambers recently when Ward Four councillor Silas Chigora questioned the city’s readiness for an increased death rate.
“It is to my knowledge that the city is now left with just three months burial space, meaning in just three months’ time we might have nowhere to bury our loved ones.
“What I want to know from council is whether we have identified another site before this turns into a crisis,” Clr Chigora said.
However, in response, Ward 27 councillor Siboniso Khumalo, who is a member of the council’s health, housing and education committee, re-assured Clr Chigora and the people of Bulawayo that they “could feel free to die” as council had already identified alternative burial space in Pmula South.
“We don’t want residents to unnecessarily panic. Yes, we are left with three months burial space but we have already identified some space close to Pumula South that will be turned into a cemetery.
“The necessary work is currently being done to prepare the land but what I must emphasise is that people can feel free and die as they will get buried,” said Clr Khumalo.
In an interview, the mayor, Clr Martin Moyo, also confirmed that they were in the process of preparing the new burial site to ensure that the city is not caught napping when burial space runs out.
“We are aware, that is why we have already found a new cemetery and we are already in the process of making the necessary preparations. Although I cannot say when it will start operating, I must assure residents that we won’t reach a situation where we will be left without any burial space,” Clr Moyo said.
The piece of land where the new cemetery will be measures 52 754 hectares with a capacity to accommodate between 107 350 and 114 270 graves, after allowing for foot paths and driveways.
The land used to belong to Hawkflight Construction Company.
During the week, burial space for an average coffin costs $46 and $66 for a casket. On weekends graves cost $67 and $97 for an average coffin and a casket respectively.
Online Reporter