‘Cemeteries dens for thieves’

WE are concerned that some thieves are using Chingwere and Chunga cemeteries as dens for criminal activities, says a Lusaka resident, Agness Nalwamba.

Ms Nalwamba cited Chingwere and Chunga as the most dangerous cemeteries in Lusaka where criminals were attacking unsuspecting residents with impunity.

“We are happy that finally the Lusaka City Council has started clearing the grass in the cemeteries, that simply shows also respect to our departed souls, therefore the exercise should be routine and not seasonal,’ said Ms Nalwamba.

Another resident, Mr Innocent Nchenga said the overgrown vegetation in the cemeteries was not only posing security concerns, but also breeding ground for mosquitoes and snakes.

Mr Nchenga commended the local authority for engaging inmates from Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) to clear the grass, hoping that the cemeteries would be cleared with the stipulated time.

“The delay in cutting off the grasses let to some unscrupulous people to be conducting illegal activities in the cemeteries such as illegal dumping of waste, illegal sell of beer and food stuffs among other illegalities,” said Mr Nchenga.

And LCC public relations manager George Sichimba said the K260,000 funds will not only go towards clearing of the overgrown vegetation in all its four

Cemeteries, but for labour and the procumbent of tools. Mr Sichimba has since warned perpetrators especially those engaging in illegal activities in the cemeteries to stop because there were other devised ways of monitoring all activities in its cemeteries.

He said those who will be found wanting risk being prosecuted under the existing laws, therefore the exercise which started last week will go on for the next three months.

He appealed to the members of the general public to be reporting to, any suspicious activities happening in all the cemeteries to the council as well as to any nearest police station.