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Makoni RDC to exhume graves

26 Nov, 2021 - 00:11 0 Views
Makoni RDC to exhume graves The family allegedly established a graveyard in their fields, shunning a community cemetery

The ManicaPost

Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent

MAKONI Rural District Council is intending to exhume 14 graves at Headlands Growth Point for reburial at a new site to pave way for the expansion of one of the fastest growing centres in the province.

The local authority has since been granted the permission to go ahead with the exhumation by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Headlands Growth Point has for the past years growing exponentially, and there is high demand for residential, commercial and institutional stands in the area.

It is the second biggest township in the district after Nyazura.

MRDC chief executive officer, Dr Edward Pise allayed fears that the exhumation will be done without consultations and involvement of the deceased’s relatives.

He added that they are required by the law to seek clearance from the Ministry of Health and Child Care as well as advertise three times in a local Press before carrying out the exercise.

“Headlands is growing exponentially and is serving as the business hub for the northern parts of the districts. We have availed 2 000 residential stands of which 500 have already been taken up. There is also demand for commercial stands as businesses are seeing great potential in the area.

“We have three applications for fuel service stations, including one by the Central Mechanical Engineering Department (CMED). One of the biggest tobacco companies in the country, British American Tobacco (BAT) has also applied for land to set up an auction floor. Headlands is one of the top tobacco producing areas in Zimbabwe and they want to be close to growers. A rising supermarket chain has also expressed interest in setting up shop there.”

He added: “Some of these developments are encroaching into the old cemetery that was used by villagers, and we want to exhume 14 graves. The rest of the old cemetery will remain intact and council will fence it. We will take over the maintenance of the cemetery.

“We initially wanted to contract private funeral companies to do the exhumations, but they were demanding US$3 200 per grave for the exercise. Council is now engaging Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services to carry out the exercise. We have identified most of the relatives, and they have consented to the reburials,” said Dr Pise.

 

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