Grave Dispute at Bulawayo Cemetery Forces City Council Intervention

A grave conflict in Bulawayo has emerged at West Park Cemetery over claims that two families share the same burial site, Grave 19. The City Council has become involved, and exhumation has been proposed to resolve the dispute. The case exemplifies the complexities surrounding burial records and family claims in such sensitive matters.

A grave dispute has recently arisen in Bulawayo, drawing the involvement of the City Council to restore order. The contention occurs at West Park Cemetery’s Old Anglican Section, where two families assert that their deceased relatives were buried in the same grave, specifically Grave 19. To resolve the issue, both families have requested municipal funding for an exhumation.

The conflict primarily involves the families of the late Florence Saunyama and Caleb Somkence. Each family believes their loved one was interred in Grave 19. The situation intensified when the Somkence family placed a tombstone at the site, assuming their relative was buried there, despite city records indicating that Florence Saunyama was interred in that grave in 2003, while Caleb’s burial in 2004 lacked a recorded grave number.

A report from the Director of Health Services dated February 10, 2025, clarified the burial records, confirming that Florence Saunyama was indeed buried in Grave 19. Meanwhile, records reflect that Caleb Somkence’s burial took place in the same section, but the exact grave was not documented. Complicating the issue, there are two nearby unmarked graves, further obscuring the truth regarding the contents of Grave 19.

In an effort to resolve the issue, a meeting was convened on January 8, 2025, involving representatives from both families. It was decided that exhumation would be necessary to determine the identity of the remains. The minutes noted, “To ascertain whose remains are in Grave 19, exhumation will be necessary. The process may also involve opening nearby graves to determine if the remains of one of the deceased persons lie there.”

After these deliberations, the council’s Health Services Department requested authorization to finance the exhumation, which was granted, allowing preparations for the rare intervention to begin. Both families await the outcome, yearning for closure and definitive answers regarding the resting places of their loved ones.

This grave dispute, centered around West Park Cemetery, has sparked significant tension between two families claiming rights to the same burial site. The City Council’s investigation indicates a need for exhumation to clarify the situation. Both families hope that this process will provide conclusive answers, allowing for an end to their distress over their relatives’ resting places.

Original Source: www.thezimbabwemail.com