Bulawayo proposes mandatory cremations for people under 25
residents to consider double burials. “Once the council cremator is available, relevant cremation policies will be formulated” said Dr Sibanda.
He said children under 12 would be mandatorily cremated when they die.
Debating the emotive issue during a full council meeting, Ward 17 councillor Sikhululekile Moyo said the demand for land for burial space was consuming a lot of space. “Residents should be encouraged to consider cremations. All persons below 25 years should automatically be cremated in order to save space for burials,” she said.
Ward 1 Cllr Mlandu Ncube said double interments for family members should be considered as well as promotion of cremations.
“Your Worship, cemeteries are consuming more land in our city. The land reserved for houses and factories is now being reserved for graves. We need to encourage our residents to adopt modern methods like cremation. If you look at Number 6 cemetery, how many houses would have been built on that land?” asked Cllr Ncube.
Cllr Silas Chigora felt that it would be prudent to establish a number of cemeteries across the city in order to reduce transport costs. Ward Seven Cllr Shadreck Sibanda said: “The remaining grave space (at West Park) should be reserved for Mzilikazi and Makokoba residents while for convenience, residents should not travel long distances for burials”.
Councillor for Ward 8, Ronniah Mudara, supported the suggestion that the remaining burial space at West Park be reserved for Mzilikazi and Makokoba residents and that double interments should also be encouraged.
Councillors were divided on the issue of cremation with some saying that people would never accept cremation but instead be encouraged to bury their loved ones in the rural areas to save space.
Residents have over the years opposed the idea of cremation, saying it was unAfrican. In Bulawayo, it costs about $63 to cremate a body while conducting burial without a funeral policy costs no less than $1 000.
With cremation, costs of ferrying people to and from cemeteries are bypassed, and the cost of hiring a hearse to take the body to the graveyard is also avoided. It also saves on land, but council has been facing an uphill task in getting people to understand and consider the rite.
Historian and researcher Mr Pathisa Nyathi is on record as saying that cremation has been practised by some cultures, but not among Africans.
“Such a subject is applicable to all our ethnic groups, Africans in general. People have a tendency of wanting to do things the way they have always been done.
“We have been around for thousands of years, and Africans have been burying their dead. Africans believe in the dual nature of human beings, the physical and the spiritual. Death to the Africans is not the end but a new beginning and so what the Africans want is to bring back the spirit (umbuyiso). The grave becomes important in that rite,” he said in an earlier interview.
“So if we go the cremation route, we will lose a very important aspect of the African belief. Uzabuyisa njani umuntu etshile? (How will you bring back the person when they have been burnt to ashes?)”.
This is not the first time the BCC has been faced with a burial space headache. Last year the local authority started approving two bodies per grave burials.
In 2016, West Park Cemetery was closed and residents were being referred to Luveve Cemetery for burials before the local authority extended West Park. — @AuxiliaK THE Health Services Board (HSB) has applauded Ingutsheni Central Hospital in Bulawayo for making good use of the Health Levy Fund, a development that has seen Treasury pledging to increase its budgetary allocation next year.
Ingutsheni is the biggest referral psychiatric hospital in Zimbabwe.
Speaking before touring the hospital yesterday, HSB acting director Mr Angelbert Mbengwa said even though some members of the public were against the levy, it has had a positive impact on the hospital.
“I think one of the positive things that have come out of the visit is the fact that unlike in other institutions, Ingutsheni has managed to boost its drug stocks and treat every patient with proceeds from the Health Levy Fund. This should encourage members of the public who thought the funds generated from a percentage of airtime sales were going to be abused,” said Mr Mbengwa.
“This institution has proven beyond doubt that community members can contribute to the wellbeing of patients and we are grateful because there are enough drugs for every patient.”
To date Ingutsheni has received $952 000 which has also enabled the hospital to venture into some projects to complement funds from Government.
Mr Mbengwa said last year, Ingutsheni was in dire need of psychotic medication, a situation which was addressed by the Health Levy Fund disbursements.
HSB deputy chairperson Professor Auxillia Chideme-Munodawafa said Ingutsheni had excelled in financial management to an extent of attracting an increase in budget allocation.
“This hospital has also done well in managing the resources that are allocated and Treasury officials have confirmed that they will increase its allocation as a reward. We encourage other organisations to follow suit and partner with the private sector,” she said.
According to Prof Chideme-Munodawafa, publicprivate partnerships also enabled the Government to save and channel resources to other critical departments. Ingutsheni board chairperson Mrs Sandra Mhema- Gumbo said 2018 had been a better year for the hospital despite current economic challenges affecting most institutions.
“This has been a better year for us as we received incredible support from all corners of Government. The Ministry (of Health and Child Care) has assisted us a lot in the procurement of medication and other essentials through the Health Levy Fund. This has brought some form of functionality within the hospital and we are grateful,” she said. — @thamamoe