Bulawayo City Council plans to designate a portion of Good Hope Farm for burial services as the city’s cemeteries have run out of burial space, latest council minutes reveal.
According to the minutes, the town planning department reported that the municipality as the local planning authority was mandated with the provision of cemetery sites.
Indications were that burial space as local cemeteries such as Luveve and Umvutcha had run out.
The council said there is a need to open up new cemetery sites to cater for the demand for burial space.
“One of the sites in terms of the Masterplan which had been earmarked for the establishment of a cemetery in the immediate future was to the north of the city centre lies within portions of the following properties: Goodhope Farm, Umvutcha B and Subdivision B of Mapani,” the minutes read.
"A deeds search revealed that Subdivision B of Mapani was government land, Umvutcha B was privately owned and Goodhope farm was owned by the City of Bulawayo."
The minutes indicate that the portion of Goodhope farm currently not being used for farming activities.
The piece of land measures 43 hectares.
- Uproar over census figures
- Byo Arts Festival in turmoil…One year later, festival has yet to pay artists…Organisers play cat and mouse with artists
- Bulawayo struggles to clear housing backlog
- Council acts tough on debts
Keep Reading
“This piece of land had a capacity to accommodate 80 000 graves. The site was 17kms from the city centre,” the minutes read.
“Access to the proposed cemetery site was through (Victoria) Falls road then turn into Sterling then into Bulawayo Drive.
“These roads need rehabilitation and upgrading to be brought up to standard that would carry increased volumes of traffic.
“There was a need to construct a proper road on this portion which had a distance of approximately 6.7kms."
Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo sought clarification on the Marvel and Pumula South cemeteries.
Indications were that these cemeteries had been gazetted a long time ago, but were not operational.
"Pumula South Cemetery was located in a rocky place and grave production was difficult. Specialised tools were needed,” the minutes added.
“Marvel Cemetery’s access was difficult, especially from Harare road.
“A roundabout had been proposed along Harare road on the Mahatshula South turn off.
“It was, therefore, resolved to recommend that the site which lies on a portion of RE of Goodhope and measuring 43 hectares as depicted on diagram TPA 9966 be handed over to the health services department so that the site was gazetted and the required infrastructure put in place."
Bulawayo has been battling shortage of burial space following the decommissioning of West Park, Luveve, Athlone and Hyde Park cemeteries a few years ago.
However, burials taking place at the decommissioned cemeteries are for reserved graves, and in some instances second interments.
