The Sunday News
Mthabisi Tshuma, Chronicle Correspondent
CHIEF Masendu of Bulilima district in Matabeleland South has raised concern over the number of bodies illegally smuggled through his area of jurisdiction from Botswana and South Africa and urged members of the public to follow legal routes and proper measures of repatriating bodies.
Repatriation of bodies amid the ongoing coronavirus ( Covid 19) pandemic is only allowed for the body and the hearse driver with family members based outside the country not allowed to accompany the body into the country and in the event they do they are quarantined and tested for the deadly virus.
In following World Health Organisation regulations, body viewing has been adversely affected as at some cases such developments are not being done.
Addressing villagers in Makumbi village during a strategical meeting of setting up a rural clinic by Bulilima West MP Cde Dingumuzi Phuti, Chief Masendu, through his secretary Mr Freeman Dube urged villagers to shun repatriating bodies illegally.
“Police have raised concerns in the area over a number of people who are bribing officials or using illegal entry points from neighbouring countries all in the name to bury their loved ones.
“Some have gone an extra mile to fake the cause of the death if the person is suspected to have died of Covid-19 and this is something that the public should shun from doing totally,” said Mr Dube.
Mr Dube said villagers should follow WHO guidelines when facilitating a burial process.
“When we are burying let’s limit the numbers to below 50 and also ensure that the tools that we use when closing a grave are regularly sanitised.
“On cases of border jumping into the country or smuggling of dead bodies do not hesitate to forward the information to the local leadership and the police too,” said Mr Dube.
Mr Dube hailed the efforts by Cde Phuti for facilitating a clinic construction project which will ease challenges of villagers who are walking over 10 kilometres to seek health services at Tokwana Clinic.
“We hail the MP for setting the pace for hardwork in ensuring that a community clinic is built.
“Local leadership should ensure that such efforts do not go down the drain by making sure villagers work hard in the construction of the clinic,” said Mr Dube.
Makumbi senior village head/ Headman Calom Ndobi said, “Unity drives development in an area and in that way we are grateful to the legislator for not forgetting his people and giving them the zeal to work very hard.
“In future there is need to ensure that the area and surrounding areas are electrified and the structures namely clinics and schools equipped with Information Communication Technology equipment,” said Headman Ndobi.
Ward 7 councillor Vincent Dube reiterated that villagers should liaise with their loved ones in South Africa to support the project so as to be a success.
MP Cde Phuti in response to needs of the communities said, “As a community we should not hide behind the fact that there is Covid-19 in facilitating developmental projects that will assist our future generation.
“We know there are water challenges in the area and we will send a water surveyor who will survey the clinic identified site and nearby sites. In terms of network connectivity Netone recently identified a nearby place and we hope in the coming future the issue will be resolved by setting up of a booster,” said Cde Phuti.
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