BULAWAYO – The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is proposing a ban on burials involving children who are 12 years and under in favour of the much resented cremation, seen as a solution to saving fast running out burial space in the city.

In the latest council report by the Health, Housing and Education Committee, councillors proposed the ban starts taking effect February 1 this year.

Cremation has come up as unfavourable within Zimbabwe’s conservative society which still finds it as a western method of disposing one’s remains.

According to the report, only seven cremations were done during the month of November last year, among hundreds of burials in the city.

“The Director of Health Services (Dr Edwin Sibanda) explained that Council had leased a piece of land at Luveve cemetery to a private contractor who had established a crematorium. The contractor was willing to partner with Council in providing cremation services. Considerations were being made to reduce cremation services for zero to twelve years to US$30,” says the report.

Councillor Felix Mhaka applauded the department for entering into a partnership with a private player saying residents needed the service especially for stillborn babies.

He admitted cremation was not yet being fully appreciated in the African culture adding that engaging residents on the method would help in changing mind-sets.

He suggested council bans 0-12-year-old burials by February 1.

“Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo (Ward 17) concurred supporting the cremation of zero to twelve year-old children. In her Ward 17, there were seven stillborn babies that had not been buried due to financial challenges. Such a service was coming in as a big relief. Residents should embrace cremation to save burial space,” reads the report

Similarly, Councillor Concilia Mlalazi said cremations on 0-12-year-olds was not a new practice in the country’s second largest city.

Ward 15 Councillor Febbie Msipha called for more wide consultations before the proposed ban.

She proposed that council adopts multi burial in one grave and extends it to other members of the family and not just couples as earlier suggested.

“In response, the Director of Health Services Dr Edwin Sibanda said that there were a lot of challenges surrounding burials of still born babies. There were con people at the City’s hospitals who collected money from stillborn baby parents claiming to assist them with burial arrangements.

“Stillborn babies were collected from various hospitals after payment and then dumped at Mpilo Hospital Mortuary. Having this cremation facility would assist a lot. Residents should be encouraged to embrace cremation to save burial space. It should be noted that most deaths occurred between zero to three years,” he said

Dr Sibanda said there were very low cases of deaths on children under 12 years whose graves are coincidentally the most neglected in most council cemeteries.

He also said there was a slight acceptance of cremation within the adult population with some of them opposed to double interment.

Town Clerk Christopher Dube called on councillors to engage residents on the need to accept cremation.