Chronicle EditorFreedom Mupanedemo, Midlands Bureau
Gweru City Council expects to sell in excess of 1 000 graves by December 31 this year.
According to the council’s half year review report released last week, the sale of graves is the only area the council was “performing well” with the local authority’s three cemeteries having provided over 500 graves so far since the beginning of the year.
It cost about $50 to secure a grave with Gweru City Council. The figure increases when one buys in advance for future use.
“The city has four cemeteries where burial space is provided. The cemeteries are Senga, Mkoba, Gweru Cemetery (Mtapa) and Central Cemetery.
“The objective was to avail 1 080 graves by December 31, 2017,” reads part of the report.
According to the report the department of graves was the only department bringing the much needed revenue to the cash strapped local authority.
So far, the council has sold 540 graves and is expecting to beat the 1 080 target.
In the report, the council bemoaned low uptake of graves at its Senga cemetery which is on a rocky ground where digging was reported to be very difficult.
“The major challenge is at Senga Cemetery where the surface is rocky which is making grave digging difficult. Mechanisation of the grave digging process may alleviate the situation,” reads the report.
Meanwhile, residents who spoke to The Chronicle yesterday said the report seems to imply that the council celebrates death.
“I was shocked by the report which was written as if our local authority wants its residents to die so that they generate revenue through the sale of graves.
Giving themselves a target as if they have people’s destiny in their hands was the most shocking part,” fumed Mr Luke Kudita of Mkoba 13.
Mrs Shamiso Shiri said including the grave space in the council budget sounds like the council wishes for its residents to die.
“What it means is that death means money to the council when it should be a loss,” she said.
Gweru Mayor, Councillor Charles Chikozho defended the decision by council to include burial space revenue in the report saying the move was a show of transparency on the part of council.
“It’s true no one celebrates death but what can we do, burial space is not provided for free in cities. That money which the council gets through selling of graves needs to be accounted for hence should be included in the budget. It might sound awkward but that’s the way to go if we are to improve on transparency as a council,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter