Residents dumping garbage at cemeteries
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE IT is unfortunate that residents and some solid waste collection companies are dumping garbage in Chingwere/Chunga cemeteries just to avoid paying dumping fees at the Chunga landfill,
Lusaka’s Mwembeshi Ward 27 councillor Kelvin Kaunda said it was regrettable if there were people disposing solid waste in the graveyard.
Mr Kaunda said people must learn to respect the dead and allow them to rest in peace instead of choosing to dump garbage there..
“We all know a graveyard is a dignified place of rest for our relatives and friends who have left us, and people must begin to show respect for the cemeteries.
“But as part of the unconfirmed reports, we can only but caution the companies and residents that want to turn our cemeteries into dumpsites to rescind their decision and address any challenges which could have pushed them to doing that,” he said.
Mr Kaunda explained that all the companies engaged by the Lusaka City Council (LCC) to collect garbage in residential areas were fully aware of the processes of dumping at the land fill, and should avoid using undesignated areas just to avoid paying.
And Mr Kaunda has appealed for stakeholders to urgently identify suitable locations for a new graveyard as the Chunga and Chingwere were full.
He said as a district, Lusaka should be looking for alternative burial grounds as the current facilities were completely full except for a few spaces which have to be sought for allocation.
“It is an open secret that the current burial sites are almost full, and I am sure the mayor is on record to introduce cremation, which has been received with mixed feelings.
“There is need for us collectively with the local authority to begin identifying another site as a graveyard,” he said.