adminrecently, Harare Mayor Mr Muchadeyi Masunda, said council was exploring prospects of encouraging cremation instead of the traditional underground burial.
He said this would save land for future city programmes.
“In the long term, we are running out of space and cremation is the only solution we have,” said Mr Masunda.
“There is a certain timeline where cemeteries will be full and we still need land for development purposes – so cremation is the only possible solution.”
He said council tabled the issue at a recent meeting and consultations were underway with different stakeholders to give their opinions. He said Councillor Joshua Nyatsuro was heading the committee leading the consultation process with the stakeholders.
“The committee is also considering cultural and traditional sentiments, which the community holds in regards to this endeavour. The city needs to expand and this idea will be helpful in the long run as the city needs more space and the cemeteries we have are already full,” he said.
Traditionalist Professor Gordon Chavunduka said African culture preferred bodies to be buried. He said customarily, burial was the last and important cultural rite given to the deceased.
Online Reporter