The Sunday News
Selusweyinkosi Mhlanga, Sunday News Reporter
Madlambudzi in Bulilima District, Plumtree will soon have a mortuary to service the area as the ward and all surrounding areas have been depending on the Plumtree District Hospital mortuary.
A businessman Mr David Moyo, who last year opened Thuso Funeral Palour in Plumtree town, the only other mortuary in the town, is making plans to open the much needed mortuary in Madlambudzi.
“The idea came about when I attended a friend’s funeral and I was shocked to see that the hospital mortuary was overcrowded and I realised the need for an alternative mortuary. Also it was very difficult for our people considering the distance and transport costs, especially those in our rural areas.
Those who don’t have insurance are the worst affected, so many people do not have insurance and I have witnessed situations where families are charged cattle as they won’t have money for the funeral,” Moyo said.
The parlour offers payment plans to the bereaved families. The parlour that has three hearses and has the capacity to carry nine bodies services Plumtree, Tsholotsho and Matopo and surrounding areas while the one in Madlambudzi will have the capacity to carry six bodies and is located near the local clinic.
“The mortuary in Madlambudzi will start operating in a few months. We are yet to have electricity connected but everything else is in place, we are already selling coffins from the site,” he said.
Mr Vusumuzi Ncube, who oversees the parlour as Mr Moyo is based in the UK, is the one who assisted in setting up the funeral parlour and says it is a welcome development.
“We are not profiting from the suffering of people, we have low charges depending on what the clients need. We also register burial societies who keep their money and bring it to us when they are bereaved, and they get discounts for being members,” Mr Ncube said.
