By Promise Dube
Filabusi residents are appealing to the government and well-wishers for support in constructing a new mortuary at Filabusi District Hospital.
Lameck Ndlovu, the Ward 12 resident’s association chairperson, told CITE that the current mortuary is overwhelmed, and a new facility is urgently needed.
“The state of the mortuary is distressing. When people collect the bodies of their deceased loved ones, some are in a state of decomposition, and we don’t know the cause,” Ndlovu said.
He explained that when the current mortuary was built, the community was much smaller. Now, there are approximately 3 000 households and between 11 000 and 12 000 residents.
Ndlovu also expressed concern about the high number of accidents and crimes involving mineworkers in the area.
“Our mortuary can only hold 12 bodies. We are hoping to build one that can accommodate at least 20 bodies. The current facility would then be used to store decomposing bodies,” he said.
Ndlovu further emphasised the need for additional mortuaries in nearby areas like Avoca and Shangani to alleviate the burden on Filabusi.
“While it’s easy for the authorities to transport a body from these places, it becomes a financial burden for families to bring their loved ones back,” Ndlovu explained.
He added that many bodies remain in the mortuary for extended periods, especially in cases where individuals die in mines or are found dead in remote areas without identification.
