Lusaka burial places found

OVER 250 hectares in Lusaka has been earmarked for the new cemeteries to give adequate burial spaces, says Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale.

Mr Mwale told Parliament on Wednesday that his ministry has been having meetings with civic leaders in Lusaka, Chilanga, Kafue, Chongwe and Chibombo districts among others to secure 250 hectares of land for new burial sites . Mr Mwale said shortage of cemeteries in Lusaka was a big issue as there was a critical shortage of burial spaces in all the cemeteries, but efforts to get new sites was in progress.

Mr Mwale said Government was equally concerned with cases where each time there was a heavy down pour in Lusaka, there were graves flooded.

“We have been meetings with council secretaries from around Lusaka in Chongwe, Kafue, Lusaka, Chibombo and Chilanga to get 250 hectares from around Lusaka so that we have spaces for graveyards that will last us for over 50 years, therefore my ministry is not sitting idle but to ensure that the land is found, said Mr Mwale.

On Monday, some bodies, blankets and skeletons skull were exhumed at Lusaka’s Chingwere and Chunga cemeteries following heavy rains.

This came to light when a team of directors from Lusaka City Council toured the two cemeteries to access the situation.

Earlier , LCC director of human resource administration, Hudson Kachenjela called on stakeholders and cooperating partners to work together in finding measures to divert the water from the graves.