Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora has stopped the construction of the Watervlei Burial Memorial Park, which was recently approved by the Harare City Council. The park is located along Seke Road, adjacent to the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant.
Mombeshora halted the project over concerns that decomposing human remains and chemicals could contaminate water due to the site’s proximity to the water treatment facility.
In a letter addressed to Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, Mombeshora said no consultations had been conducted with the Ministry of Health and Child Care regarding the project. He said:
<blockquote>
This falls short of the requirements of the Public Health Act… Corpses discharge chemicals and impurities that could seep into the groundwater.
</blockquote>
Mombeshora said the cemetery’s location violates World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, which recommend a buffer zone of at least 1 to 2 kilometers between cemeteries and water treatment facilities.
Despite warnings from the Harare Water Department about potential health risks, the Harare City Council granted a permit for the cemetery’s construction. Said Mombeshora:
<blockquote>
The cemetery is too close to the stream, raising the chances of contamination of Seke Dam’s ground and surface water.
</blockquote>
The envisaged cemetery’s proximity to the stream that feeds into the raw water source increases the risk of pollution, echoing the recent Lake Chivero pollution incident that devastated local wildlife and fish populations.

Pindula News

A new cemetery was stopped by the Health Minister because it's too close to a water treatment plant in Harare. Decomposing bodies and chemicals could pollute the water. The Health Minister says the cemetery violates health guidelines from the World Health Organisation. The Harare City Council approved the cemetery despite warnings about health risks. The Minister is worried about contamination of the water source. This could harm the environment and animals living in the area. The Minister wants the cemetery to be at least 1 to 2 kilometers away from the water treatment plant to keep the water safe.

Health Minister Blocks Construction Of Cemetery Near Water Treatment Facility

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of four people in connection with the desecration of 380 graves and corpses at Restland Memorial Park in Rianham, Harare.
ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi revealed that Edwin Muronzi, Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19), and Kudakwashe Humure (21) were apprehended for their involvement in violating graves and human remains between 2015 and 2024.
It is alleged that the suspects, working as gravediggers, excavated existing graves to make space for new burials.
They reportedly removed human skeletal remains, packed them into empty cement bags, wrapped them in burial clothing, and then disposed of them in a trench or dam located behind the cemetery. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
ARREST OF FOUR SUSPECTS FOR MASSIVE VIOLATION OF 380 GRAVES AND CORPSES AT RESTLAND MEMORIAL PARK, RAINHAM, HARARE.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Edwin Muronzi, Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19) and Kudakwashe Humure (21) in connection with the massive violation of approximately 380 graves and corpses at Restland Memorial Park, Rainham, Harare between 2015 and 2024.
On 04th December 2024, police arrested Tinashe Chiguma after he made a report that he had been experiencing visions of dead people requesting to know the whereabouts of their relatives.
Tinashe Chiguma implicated his employers, Edwin Muronzi, Moses Gwanya and Kudakwashe Humure, leading to their arrest.
Investigations by the Police revealed that Edwin Muronzi employed grave diggers at the cemetery including the suspects and others who are on the run and paid them between USD 15.00 and USD 20.00 per every grave.
The grave diggers allegedly received instructions from Edwin Muronzi to dig the graves to pave the way for new graves and subsequent burials.
In the process, they would come across human skeletal remains which they would pack in empty cement bags before wrapping them in clothes used during burial and disposing them in a trench or a dam behind the cemetery. They would also dispose of the traditional artefacts buried with the bodies.
Edwin Muronzi and his team would then resale the graves to new clients to bury their late relatives without suspecting anything after cleaning and rearranging the used graves.
A team from Zimbabwe Republic Police including Forensic Science is conducting investigations with the view of identifying the graves which were tempered with, to identify the bodies through their relatives and the whole area where the illegally exhumed bodies and artefacts were being dumped.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of the outstanding suspects only identified as Kevy, Shumba and Dread.
Anyone with information to contact the National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp on 0712 800 197 or report at any nearest Police Station.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Four people in Zimbabwe have been arrested for breaking into graves and taking the bodies out. They dug up around 380 graves! The police caught them because one of them said he saw dead people asking for their relatives. The suspects took the bones, put them in bags, wrapped them in clothes, and threw them away. They then sold the graves to new people without them knowing what had happened. The police are still looking for more suspects involved in this crime. They want people to tell them if they have more information.

Four Arrested For Violating 380 Graves And Exhuming Corpses At Restland Memorial Park

A police officer based at Matapi Police Station in Mbare, Harare, appeared in court on Thursday on allegations of raping and robbing a woman at a cemetery.
Tarisai Sithole (35) was facing charges of robbery and rape when he appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, reported <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/cop-robs-rapes-victim-in-cemetery/">The Herald</a>.
Sithole was remanded out of custody to July 9 for trial date allocation.
Prosecuting, Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that on 26 April 2024, the complainant disembarked from a commuter omnibus at Simon Mazorodze flyover in Harare. She was approached by Sithole, who was in the company of his accomplice who is still at large.
Sithole and his accomplice allegedly took the victim to Pioneer Cemetery in Mbare, where they forcibly took her bag containing her documents and property before they took turns to rape her.
It is further alleged that the victim went to ZRP Matapi to report the incident. Whilst she was in the charge office, Sithole entered wearing civilian clothes.
The victim identified Sithole, who then took her aside and threatened her not to report the matter. She, however, told police officers who were present that she had been raped by Sithole.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Police Officer Robs, Rapes Victim In Cemetery

Over 100 graves at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare were desecrated this week by unidentified individuals, whose motives remain unknown.
Chief Parks and Cemeteries Officer Godfrey Batsirai Munetsi told <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/witchcraft-fears-as-100-graves-desecrated-in-3-days-at-harare-cemetery/">ZimLive</a> on Thursday that the people have been entering the cemetery at night since Tuesday this week and damaging tombstones. Said Munetsi:
<blockquote>
We have no concrete leads or the motive behind the desecration of graves but we cannot rule out witchcraft because there are a lot of these that happen during the night in cemeteries.
It could be about rituals as evidenced by a previous case at a Mbare cemetery where a mentally deranged man would destroy tombstones with crucifixes only.
We have alerted the police and also continue to monitor because strange movements continue to happen during the night.
</blockquote>
It is suspected that this is the work of more than one person given that more than 100 graves have been damaged in only three days.
Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) president George Kandiero said that witchcraft cannot be ruled out. He said:
<blockquote>
A lot of things happen especially nowadays where people are in a rush for money and power.
They can be ordered by sorceresses to destroy graves in order to accumulate power and wealth.
</blockquote>
One Theresa Nyoni told ZimLive that she unveiled her late father’s tombstone in December last year and she was shattered to find it damaged. She said:
<blockquote>
This is honestly disturbing to see after just four months of the tombstone unveiling,” she told ZimLive.
God will punish these criminals and we are going to get to the bottom of all this.
</blockquote>
In April 2022, thieves stole thousands of memorial plaques from Warren Hills Cemetery in two months.
The City of Harare officials overseeing the cemetery said they suspected that the thieves were selling the expensive brass plaques to scrap metal dealers.
The metals would use the brass to make various jewellery items such as rings and bracelets.
In Zimbabwe, violating graves or corpses is criminalised under sections 110 and 111 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] which says:
<blockquote>
110 Violating graves
Any person who violates a grave in which human remains are situated, knowing that he or she is doing so or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that he or she may be doing so, shall be guilty of violating a grave and liable to a fine not exceeding level seven or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or both.
111 Violating corpses
(1) Any person who damages, mutilates, removes pieces from or otherwise violates a dead human body, knowing that he or she is doing so or realising that there is a real risk or possibility that he or she may be doing so, shall be guilty of violating a corpse and liable to a fine up to or exceeding level fourteen or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), it shall be lawful for any person;
(a) to remove tissue from or carry out a post-mortem examination on or otherwise deal with a dead human body in accordance with the Inquests Act [Chapter 7:07], the  Anatomical Donations and Post-mortem Examinations Act [Chapter 15:01], or any other enactment; or 
(b) to do anything necessary for the purpose of embalming a dead human body or preparing it for burial, cremation or other lawful disposal.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

100 Graves Desecrated In 3 Days At Warren Hills Cemetery

Church leaders have condemned the desecration of Zinyengere Cemetery in the dormitory town of Epworth by sand poachers.
Reports indicate that several graves at the site have been exhumed, with the human remains thrown into the nearby Jacha stream by the sand poachers.
Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) superintendent for Epworth Circuit, Reverend Josias Mudenda, said:
<blockquote>
I have gone to the graveyard many times to bury fellow church members, only to see what is happening there. It is an eyesore.
The Bible even says graveyards are sacred places. In the Bible, Nehemiah said he could not rest while the place of his fathers’ graves lies waste and the gates are consumed by fire, showing the respect he had for the dead.
I believe that graves should be walled and gated. The local authority needs to work with the community to protect this site.
</blockquote>
The sand poachers are said to be led by a man only known as Christopher.
Meanwhile, Isaac Chirimba, a senior resident of Epworth, criticised the sand poachers for disrespecting the dead. He said:
<blockquote>
These youths are very disrespectful. What they are doing is taboo. Invading a graveyard to earn a few dollars is unacceptable in our society.
Last month, we went to the cemetery to bury a relative and discovered that some of the graves were missing, much to our surprise.
We were shocked when we found a skull and bones scattered all over the place.
</blockquote>
Another senior citizen, Gogo Hilda Sithole, said the sand poachers have access to the graveyard after vandalising a perimeter wall that had been erected at the cemetery by locals. She said:
<blockquote>
Epworth is my home. I have been here with my family since 1960. We used to bury children in this place you now see as plain ground. There is nothing to show that there were graves there.
This is all the work of sand poachers, who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
</blockquote>
Epworth Local Board secretary Wilton Mhanda conceded that sand poachers were a menace but said the issue has been blown out of proportion. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes, there are sand poachers, but the situation is exaggerated. We usually conduct raids and culprits are brought to book.
</blockquote>
ZRP community liaison officer for Epworth, Sergeant Maliana Davis, said they were not aware of any cemetery invasion by sand poachers. She said:
<blockquote>
As Epworth ZRP, we are committed to duty. The last time council engaged us was, when some people were constructing houses in the cemetery. We worked together well on the matter.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/no-resting-in-peace-%e2%96%a0-sand-poachers-invade-graveyard-%e2%96%a0-greed-dwarfs-logic">The Sunday Mail</a>

Methodist Church Pastor Condemns "Desecration" Of Graveyard In Epworth

Villagers in Kanengoni village under Chief Negomo in Chiweshe are distressed after illegal gold panners invaded a cemetery in the area in search of gold.
Kraal head, Garikayi Kanengoni, confirmed the development to H-Metro saying the illegal miners were expected to appear before Chief Negomo. He said:
<blockquote>
I received information that there were some illegal miners operating at the village cemetery and I could not believe it.
As kraal head, I engaged Chief Negomo’s secretary and we visited the anthill where we lay to rest our relatives, and where our forefathers were laid to rest.
It is unbelievable that the miners failed to respect the dead and went on to expose some of the graves, in search of gold.
The matter has disturbed villagers and we agreed that this must stop.
Vamwe vana vacho ndevemumusha handizive kuti kana vavekufukunura makuva tochivigira kupi vafi uye isu tikafa tinovigwa kupi. (Some of the culprits are locals and I’m concerned that we won’t have a burial place anymore as they are digging up the cemetery.)
Families have been clashing over this matter and it has been stopped and appropriate action has been taken.
The people involved are expected to appear before Chief Negomo this Saturday and I promise that this will surely be brought to a halt.
</blockquote>
Authorities have turned a blind eye to the desecration of the cemetery as they are reportedly being given gold to allow the mining to continue.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/gold-panners-invade-cemetery/">H-Metro</a></h4>

Gold Panners Dig Up Graves

An unidentified Zimbabwean man has caused a stir in his home area after he was found with human bones, including a skull, wrapped in a cloth.
In a video that circulated on social media platforms, the man claimed that he had the authority to exhume the bones.
A crowd gathered around the man to witness the bizarre occurrence, with some onlookers claiming that the man had exhumed his mother’s remains.
Watch the video below:
<div class="wp-video" style="width: 234px;">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" controls="controls" height="426" id="video-210434-1" preload="metadata" width="234"><source src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Zimbabwean-man-found-with-human-remains.mp4?_=1" type="video/mp4"/><a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Zimbabwean-man-found-with-human-remains.mp4">https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Zimbabwean-man-found-with-human-remains.mp4</a></video></div>

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