Cremation still low

Clinton Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
ONLY two percent of people who are buried in Bulawayo annually are cremated, a situation that has continued to strain the city council on land for burials.

Body cremation is the burning of the remains of a deceased person in a cremator either through mechanical means using diesel fuel or a manual cremator; that is using firewood.

Speaking to Sunday News, city council spokesperson Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said the council has tried to incentivise the adoption of cremation but the uptake was till very low.

“Council has tried to incentivise the public to consider cremations by maintaining cremation fees at a minimal which is $63. There is, however, low uptake of the service by the indigenous population, who only contribute approximately two percent of annual cremations,” she said.

She added that the low uptake of the service was purely due to cultural reasons.

“The low uptake of the service is purely due to cultural reasons. There is therefore a need to bring about a paradigm shift in this respect, as land for burial purposes continues to diminish and on the other hand there is increased demand for land for housing and other activities,” said Mrs Mpofu.

Bulawayo acting director of Health Services Dr Edwin Sibanda said a majority of the people who practice cremation in Zimbabwe were Hindu people who culturally and religiously cremate their deceased loved ones.

Meanwhile, Mrs Mpofu said the city has budgeted $1,2 million for the operationalisation of the two new cemeteries namely Marvel and Pumula South.

She said access roads and infrastructure designs were underway for Marvel cemetery and work on Pumula South Cemetery was yet to start.

“The city has budgeted a total of $1,2 million for the operationalisation of the two cemeteries. Access roads and infrastructure designs are currently underway for Marvel. Before commissioning of the cemetery, ablution and office buildings have to be in place and to this effect building plans are being drawn to ensure that all development will be in accordance with approved plans. Work on Pumula South Cemetery is yet to start,” she said.