Chitungwiza dismisses ‘graves’ allegations

Audrey Galawu

Chitungwiza Municipality has refuted claims that the council is awarding councillors and senior managers two graves per month as allowances which they are in turn selling to residents for US$600 each.

In a statement, the local authority said the allegations are far-fetched and defamatory.

“We have learnt with great displeasure of a report published by one of the country’s largest newspapers, The Herald in today’s (24 May, 2023) issue titled “Chitungwiza Councilolrs in very Grave Scam,” written by one Trust Freddy.

“The news article insinuated that every Chitungwiza councillor and senior managers were being allocated a pair of graves each month in the Council cemetery as allowances, which were in turn being sold for US$600. The allegations are non-existent.

“We would like to categorically put it on record that following a resolution of a Special Full Council meeting held on the 13th of February, 2023, it was agreed that councillors should get two free graves per month to assist the less-privileged in their respective wards.

“This is in direct contrast to the article published in the Herald, which, in all honesty, tried in vain to mudsling the council, its officials, and the policymakers.

“For the record, the current approved burial fees for the 2023 budget are pegged in USD as follows, Adult resident to pay US$70, per child resident, US$14, per adult non-resident, US$97, per child non-resident, US$48 and upmarket (not available) US$207.

“Given the above scenario, it boggles the mind as to where the figures presented in The Herald article were derived from,” reads the statement.

The municipality stated that the allegations are coming from misguided elements trying to score cheap political points.

“As a municipality, we refute whatever was reported, and as such, the article should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

“Furthermore, it also defies logic for individuals to purchase such ‘expensive’ graves if they are ever available in Chitungwiza, instead, one would opt for the upmarket cemeteries in some parts of the province, which charge almost the same figures as alleged,” the statement further reads.