CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU – As debate over negligence of Mtapa cemetery by City of Gweru continues to rage on, the local authority recently highlighted that their efforts to give the cemetery a decent face jeopardized by by vendors who use the cemetery as toilets.
Speaking during a 2024 budget review meeting at Gweru Town House, a senior council official said the local authority has provided decent toilets at at Mtapa market but people opted to continue defecting in the open.
‘They (vendors) are demon possessed,’ said the official.
The shocking condemnation sparked debate during the meeting that was also attended by Gweru Mayor Martin Chivhoko and his deputy Nyaradzo Madzikura.
City of Gweru acting director of housing and community services, Unity Jaji said it was disturbing that the vendors shun the toilets in favour of the nearby cemetery, a sacred place.
“It is unbelievable and we are baffled how these people continue using the cemetery when council has finished constructing a toilet. Honestly for someone to go and use the graveside as a toilet is unbecoming,” she said.
Mtapa Cemetery was decommissioned around 2006, it still has reserved graves bought in advance there.
“I would like to assure you that we are looking into that matter to have our cemetery well maintained and also have municipal police enforce if they find someone defecating there,” Jaji added.
Meanwhile, residents have often expressed dismay at the failure by GCC to maintain Mtapa Cemetery, which recently led a Mkoba man to exhume his buried wife and reburied her at the well-maintained Destiny Private Cemetery, which is run by Northgate Heights.
