To the Editor ‘Double burials’ very shocking

BULAWAYO residents were recently shocked by media reports suggesting that two bodies of people will now be buried in one grave.

The report said this is caused by the shortage of burial space as almost all Bulawayo cemeteries are almost full.

This will be the first time to hear about double burials in Zimbabwe since it is not part of our culture.

I feel it is wrong for the Bulawayo City Council to consider that be implemented without consulting the residents first.

I don’t even think there is any country in Africa which can ever do that because most African countries have full respect for the dead.

If people, especially couples can request to be buried in one grave that is not a problem but to do it against residents’ approval is not right.

Most people in Africa follow their traditional customs and other ways of life so to import western cultures is very bad for many people.

If my memory serves me right the same residents who should be piled in one grave rejected cremation.

Cremation was supposed to solve the issue of burial space shortage but people dismissed that idea saying that was not part of their culture but to my big surprise now there is this issue of double burials where two people who don’t even know each other are buried in one grave.

Residents should not be taken for granted but should be consulted every time when a decision is to be taken because as I speak the majority of residents I talked to on the issue of double burial are very angry. Eddious Masundire Shumba and Kingstone Kwebeya, Luveve, Bulawayo.