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Blessings Chidakwa, Herald Reporter
A NEW modern cemetery, the Watervlei Memorial Burial Park, is being established with mausoleums, cremation, and embalming facilities, along with a War Veterans Memorial Garden.
It is expected to be operational by July. Occupying 77 hectares of land, 55 hectares are designated for graves.
This area was determined in consultation with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), which mandated a 200-meter buffer zone from streams and dams to minimise ground pollution from buried bodies.
The graves will feature a brick and concrete lining to enhance structural integrity and reduce contamination risks. Reserve graves for war veterans will honour their contributions during the liberation struggle, with the project receiving approval and support from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
Located 11 kilometres from Harare City Centre along Seke Road, the project has already been approved by the Harare City Council (HCC) and other relevant town planning authorities.
Through the project, land degradation from sand poaching will be addressed, positively impacting the nearby stream.
The project aims to create jobs for tombstone sculptors and granite workers.
According to the Watervlei Burial Park brochure, the design will serve as a mini prototype of the iconic National Heroes Acre, taking into account health and environmental impacts in collaboration with the Memories of Zimbabwe Armed Forces Struggle (MOZAST).
Unlike traditional graves, the new design includes, multi-layered graves using concrete and bricks to prevent soil seepage, mausoleums that do not disturb the ground, thereby reducing environmental hazards and promoting vertical space usage.
A columbarium for cremation services and embalming.
The Burial Park will feature a central administration centre called Remembrance Village, which is partially constructed.
This centre will provide various services, including a coffee house, florist, stone mason, gift shop, prayer rooms, chapels, and a funeral hall.
The site will have a secure entrance, fully fenced with a 4-kilometer perimeter for maximum security. An irrigation system utilizing borehole water will support landscaping efforts, creating a peaceful garden environment for gravesites.
The City of Harare has approved plans for a roundabout at the Burial Park entrance, ensuring easy access from both Harare and Chitungwiza.
The construction of this roundabout will be funded by the project to enhance road safety and benefit users of the Burial Park.
Online Reporter