Graveyards fill up as Covid-19 deaths rise

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
KWEKWE City Council is in the process of identifying new grave sites as the city is running out of burial space due to high numbers of Covid-19 related deaths.

With about 140 burials last month alone, Kwekwe Mayor Councillor Angeline Kasipo said the local authority has embarked on a survey for new burial sites.

Kwekwe has four cemeteries: Amaveni, Mbizo, Msasa Park and Central.

“At the current rate of burials, our Amaveni, Mbizo and Msasa Park cemeteries have about two to three years. Our Central cemetery is full but there are people who had reserved graves there so it’s still in use. Our department of works has already begun work in identifying new sites,” said Clr Kasipo.

She said in July alone, 140 people were buried at council cemeteries.

“The rate at which the people are dying in Kwekwe due to Covid-19 related illnesses is very high. Council is facing a looming disaster due to the increasing lack of burial space and therefore this needs to plan ahead,” said Clr Kasipo.

President Mnangagwa has, on a number of occasions, urged Zimbabweans to get vaccinated against Covid-19 saying life can only return to normal if the majority of the country’s population is inoculated against the pandemic that has claimed more than 3 000 lives.

Zimbabwe is under a level 4 national lockdown in light of the increasing infections, which saw the number of deaths in the country also rising.

To tackle the pandemic, President Mnangagwa has assured the nation that no resource would be spared to save the lives of Zimbabweans as the Government seeks to inoculate 60 percent of the country’s population to achieve herd immunity.

Closer to home, the City of Johannesburg is urging residents to consider alternative burial options, due to the lack of space.