Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has urged residents to consider cremation as the city is fast running out of burial space.
Cremation is another acceptable method of disposing human remains apart from burying, in line with the Bulawayo cremations Regulations and Cremation Procedures.
The local authority has been concerned by the low uptake of cremation, especially among black people.
In a statement, Senior Public Relations Officer, Nesisa Mpofu said land to establish cemeteries within the environs of the city is running out.
“Land is a finite resource and there is a need to encourage residents to view cremation as an option of disposing of the dead.
“Land to establish cemeteries within the environs of the city is also running out,” said Mpofu.
She said the City is also mooting the idea of allowing families to opt for headstones instead of tombstones as a way of conserving burial space.
“The maintenance of cemeteries is also a challenge and the City is mooting the idea of allowing families to put only headstones in the cemeteries.
“This will enable levelling of the graves and hence make it easier for the council to manoeuvre its maintenance machinery”.
Meanwhile, Mpofu said burial space is still available at Luveve cemetery.
“Luveve cemetery is open for burial and will be open for approximately ten years.”
She added that the local authority will move to Marvel cemetery once Athlone West is decommissioned for normal burials.
“The council has been working on erecting offices and ablution facilities at the site.
“We are also working on the access roads which are constructed during the planning stage of any new cemetery.
Once these have been completed, the Marvel cemetery will be ready for use.
