Masvingo City Council is considering increasing burial fees as it seeks to ease pressure on Mangwandi Cemetery, where the remaining space is expected to run out by August 2027 if current burial trends continue.
The proposed fee review is among several measures being considered by the local authority following the closure of Lawn Cemetery, which has increased demand for burial space at Mangwandi.
According to the latest Masvingo Full Council minutes, Mangwandi Cemetery is facing growing pressure, despite the establishment of Cambria Cemetery as an alternative burial facility.
“The cemetery is however experiencing increasing pressure due to growing demand for burial space, particularly following the official closure of lawn cemetery,” read the minutes.
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The first section of Mangwandi Cemetery, commissioned in 1996, had a capacity of 1,416 graves, while the second section, opened in May 2019, could accommodate 864 graves.
As of September 2026, only 267 burial spaces remained. Council estimated that the available space would last until 20 August 2027 if current burial trends continued.
However, the minutes noted that many residents were reluctant to use Cambria Cemetery because of its distance from the city centre and accessibility challenges. The cemetery is about 10km from the central business district.
“Although Cambria Cemetery had been established as an alternative burial facility, most of the residents do not prefer to use it because of its distance and accessibility considerations. The Cemetery is 10km away from Central Business District,” read the minutes.
Council also warned that the available space, particularly in the children’s section, could be exhausted within a relatively short period if current burial trends persisted.
“It was highlighted that if the current burial trends continued, the available space particularly in the children’s section was likely to be exhausted within a relatively short period,” the minutes read.
To ease pressure on Mangwandi, councillors proposed increasing burial fees, arguing that the current charges were below prevailing market rates.
“On the need to reduce pressure on Mangwandi Cemetery, it was suggested to review grave prices upwards given that the current grave fees were too low taking into account the cost of graves in the market,” read the minutes.
Council resolved to direct the Director of Housing and Social Services to prepare a report on the proposed fee review and submit it to management for consideration.
It also proposed measures to encourage residents to use Cambria Cemetery and the fencing of Mangwandi to protect graves and tombstones from damage by stray animals.
The minutes further proposed exploring the establishment of a private cemetery targeting high-income earners as another way of reducing pressure on public burial facilities.
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