Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
BULAWAYO residents have been urged to adhere to cemetery burial booking timeframes in order to decongest cemeteries, amid concerns that some funeral parlours were harassing mourners at cemeteries, especially when one of the involved parties delayed concluding burial rites.
Director of Health Services, Dr Edwin Mzingwane, said there was consensus among councillors and management on the need to stick to the burial timeframes.
Chamber Secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, noted that residents should not exceed an hour at the cemeteries.
“The Chamber Secretary explained that families were expected to adhere to booked times for burial. It was prudent for families to adhere to booked times for burial. On average, a burial must not exceed one hour at the cemetery. Most of the speeches should be done during church services,” said Mrs Zhou, as quoted by the local authority in its latest MasiyePhambili weekly newsletter.
Ward 10 Councillor, Khalazani Ndlovu, shared Mrs Zhou’s concerns, stating that delays experienced by locals during burials should be avoided. She observed that there were some clashes at cemeteries due to failure to adhere to the set timelines.
“Residents should be encouraged to start burial programmes very early to accommodate all the speakers and the last rites that families would love to give to their deceased relatives. Clash of times at the cemeteries should be avoided,” she said.
Cllr Royini Sekete raised concerns that some burials were being rushed, recommending that burials be started much earlier.
The city’s by-laws prohibit any burial after 1PM.
Council recently revealed that a total of 480 burials took place across eight of the city’s cemeteries during the month of June, while five bodies were cremated during the same period.
According to the latest council statistics, the burials were carried out at Umvutshwa, Luveve Old, Lady Stanley, Luveve Extension, Athlone, Luveve Number 3, West Park, and Hyde Park cemeteries.
Luveve Extension recorded the highest number of burials with 249, while Lady Stanley recorded just a single burial. Umvutshwa Cemetery accounted for 136 burials, Athlone had six, West Park nine, and Hyde Park also recorded a single burial. Luveve Old saw 74 burials, while Luveve Number 3 had four.
