adminAuxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
SAND poachers have wreaked havoc at Hyde Park cemetery, digging up graves and leaving coffins exposed. The illegal digging up of sand has environmentally degraded most parts of Bulawayo with authorities fighting a losing battle against poachers.
The desecrated graves have angered residents who have approached the Bulawayo City Council for recourse.
Council has responded by drawing up plans to erect a pre-cast wall around the cemetery, which is situated next to Pelandaba Suburb.
According to the latest council report, the local authority has been battling to fill gaping holes left by the illicit sand digging, to no avail.
The poachers — the report shows — have the audacity to cart away the sand used to fill the holes.
Council’s director of health services Dr Zanele Hwalima reported that since 2014, an unsettling development had been taking place at Hyde Park cemetery whereby there had been extensive poaching of pit sand; mainly in Section General 5.
“It’s believed that the sand is being used in the neighbouring stands where extensive building construction is in progress.
“What’s particularly disturbing is that although we’ve requested for soil from the Director of Engineering Services to refill (backfilling) the graves, the thieves have come and carted away this soil as well,” said Dr Hwalima.
She said in some instances during this pilferage, soil had been taken away to the point of leaving coffins exposed.
“This is an unfortunate and serious disrespect to the departed,” said Dr Hwalima
She said the pit sand was being carried away mainly in wheelbarrows and scotch carts.
Dr Hwalima said her department had informed the Parks Unit of the department of housing and community services about the “worrying” development.
In debate that ensued after her report, councillors suggested that the area councillors, Lot Siziba and Lillian Mlilo, should engage residents to stop the “abominable behaviour.”
They said constructing a precast wall around the cemetery would be a good long term plan to preserve the decency of the cemetery.
Ward 24 Clr Gideon Mangena said that poaching of pit sand at Hyde Park Cemetery was an anti-social practice which should be stopped.
He suggested that the graves should be backfilled, adding there were graves at West Park Cemetery that needed similar attention.
Clr Mlilo weighed in saying that security at Hyde Park Cemetery should be increased.
“Other cemeteries in the city have adequate security which carries out regular patrols so I suggest that pit sand poachers should also be arrested,” said Mlilo.
In response, Dr Hwalima explained that pit sand poachers were also stealing decomposed gravel delivered to the cemetery for grave backfilling.
Acting Town Clerk Sikhangele Zhou advised that relevant notices would be placed at cemeteries to stop poaching of pit sand and gravel.
Online Reporter