Grave on residential stand to be exhumed

15 Jan, 2025 - 11:01 0 Views

Robin Muchetu

Senior Reporter

A GRAVE discovered on a residential stand in Masvingo’s Zimre Park suburb is set to be exhumed and reburied to facilitate the development of the property by its owner.

While such discoveries are not uncommon, they often raise concerns among those who view building over a grave as a bad omen.

Masvingo Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa announced the discovery in a statement. “Notice is hereby given that the City of Masvingo’s Department of Housing and Social Services intends to undertake the removal and relocation of human remains of an unidentified deceased individual buried at Stand number 27394 Zimre Park, Masvingo and transfer the remains to Mangwandi Cemetery. This exhumation is necessary to permit the construction of a house on the residential stand,” he stated.

The Town Clerk also invited objections to submit their concerns in writing to his office. The exhumations will follow the guidelines outlined in the Cemeteries Act Chapter 5:04.

In February last year, the Bulawayo City Council uncovered human remains believed to be over 100 years old at a housing development site in Killarney suburb.

The remains were part of a settlement that once existed in the area and their discovery coincided with ongoing development work.

The remains were later reburied at Luveve Cemetery with council indicating that further exhumations and reburials would occur periodically as development progresses.

In June 2023, the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) initiated the exhumation and reburial of 1103 graves to clear the way for the development of Mt Hampden into a modern city.

The community was informed about the process, and the NMMZ emphasised the importance of treating the remains with utmost respect and dignity during their relocation.

Residents in the area where the graves were located however expressed mixed feelings about the emergence of a new city, recognizing the potential opportunities it may bring while grappling with their cultural beliefs regarding the exhumation of the dead.

In 2020, the Redcliff Municipality encountered old graves obstructing development plans in the town. The remains were exhumed and reburied at the municipality’s Rutendo Cemetery, allowing for the urban expansion of the area.

Some graves were positively identified by their relatives before the land was sold for further development.

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