Residents in Hwange are calling for urgent consultations after a mining company announced plans to exhume and relocate 65 graves to make way for its operations.
Kamativi Mining Company said the relocation, to be carried out within its dry tailings operational area, is in line with the Cemeteries Act and necessary to clear land for ongoing mining activities.
However, the move has raised concern among local leaders and villagers, who say the process is culturally sensitive and requires broader community engagement.
Ward 3 councillor Bryan Chikumbo said consultations must take place before any relocation is undertaken.
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“We need proper consultations before the relocation of these graves is done. We need to consult our elders and take their opinions seriously,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we need a collective decision whereby traditions are respected and the community agrees on the way forward.”
Elderly residents also expressed concern, stressing the cultural and spiritual importance of burial sites.
Seventy-two-year-old Laina Ndlovu said disturbing graves without agreement could have lasting consequences.
“These are not just graves, these are our ancestors. You cannot just move them without sitting down with families and elders,” she said.
“We need to agree as a community first.”
Another resident, Jeremiah Ncube, warned that failure to consult could create divisions.
“If this is done without proper engagement, it will bring conflict. People must be informed and involved step by step,” he said.
“This is about respect for the dead and for our customs.”
A third resident, who identified herself as uMaSibanda, urged authorities not to rush the process.
“Let there be meetings where everything is explained clearly. Only then can people accept what is happening,” she said.
While the company maintains the relocation is legally compliant, residents say meaningful consultation is essential to ensure cultural practices are respected and the dignity of the deceased is preserved.
Efforts to get a comment from the Greater Hwange Residents Association were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
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