Bulawayo Mayor, Thaba Moyo in an interview confirmed that cremations have been suspended.
“A large crack had developed in the chamber of the diesel cremator. Inspectors told us to immediately suspend cremations pending remedial action.
“Inspectors said the cracks affected the whole process as cremations should be held under the necessary conditions and the cracks,” Moyo said on Saturday.
The suspension of the cremations comes at a time when Bulawayo city fathers are encouraging residents to switch to cremations to save land as cemeteries were fast filling up.
According to the city council, there is a low response from black Zimbabweans in the city to switch to cremations.
Cremations are relatively cheap compared to ordinary burials.
For example, a basic burial – including cemetery, grave fees, a modest wooden casket and transportation – costs about $400 whilst cremation costs an average of $200.
A total of 9 cremations, mainly of people of Asian origin as well as the white community, were held in December.
In a bid to find more burial space, city fathers have said they were now negotiating with landowners for more land on which to establish new graveyards.
The council has also drawn up a controversial burial plan to preserve the current burial space.
The burial strategy comprises of three approaches, including, digging up deep graves to allow for two or three burials, stopping the reservation of graves and asking owners of unused graves to sell them back to the council, and the reduction of cremation tariffs to less than half the price of a traditional burial.
Post published in: News