The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
The idea of death, and the fear of it, haunts the human race.
People often wonder what will become of them when they finally “kick the bucket”.
Superstitions, taboos, religious and cultural connotations surround cemeteries, the final resting place for the dear departed.
A number of factors, chief among them the scarcity of burial space in urban areas, has resulted in Zimbabweans changing their perceptions with regards to issues relating to death.
In most cultures, cemeteries are often synonymous with witchcraft, ghosts and other scary things. And most cultures consider it taboo to live next to a cemetery.
A visit to communities that live near cemeteries in and around Harare revealed that death has been made less mysterious.
Contrary to the view that graveyards are spooky areas that the living must avoid, some Harare residents are peacefully co-existing with the dead.
A particular case is that of the Restland Memorial Park, which is located on the peripheries of Harare’s high-density suburb of Dzivarasekwa.
Located in an area which falls under the Zvimba rural district council, the cemetery came as a relief to those residing in the city’s western suburbs of Dzivarasekwa, Kuwadzana and Tynwald, among others.
Although some cultures forbids association with the dead, the Restland Memorial Park is located right in the midst of the living.
Some few metres from the graveyard is a major road, an industrial park and a residential area.
At first, according to Melody Mashanda, the cemetery’s manager, locals did not initially warm up to the idea of having a cemetery right next to their doorsteps.
“The idea of having a graveyard right in the midst of the community was initially resisted. However, as time passed on, the residents began to appreciate the fact that a cemetery is nothing but a final resting place for the dead,” Mashanda said.
Mashanda said the economic benefits that are associated with the memorial park partly swayed the local community into embracing this unusual arrangement.
“We often avail burial space to locals at a discounted rate. Apart from that, we also buy bricks, quarry stones and other building materials from locals. During burials, the locals also selling such items as food and water,” added Mashanda.
Locals are also employed as grave diggers and landscapers.
Mashanda sees nothing wrong with the living interacting with the dead on a daily basis.”
“In the past, such a scenario would appear weird. Things have, however, changed. We have people who visit us regularly, inspecting our facilities with the intention of acquiring burial space for future use,” Mashanda said.
She added: “Cemeteries are a place where our dear departed are laid to rest. They give solace to the living who often visit the graveyard and fondly remember their loved ones.”
Mr Clive Chiguma, the caretaker of the cemetery, lives with his family at the periphery of the graveyard.
He dismissed the misconception of graveyards being creepy places that are often haunted and should, therefore, be avoided at all cost.
“This is not my first time to live right in the middle of a cemetery.
“I sometimes pass through the cemetery at odd hours and I’m yet to encounter the so-called ghosts,” Chiguma said.
Mr Bright Nhokwara, whose house is a stone throw away from the cemetery, said it is the community that is benefitting from the location of the cemetery.
“At first, I was against the idea of having a cemetery near my home. I then realised that it was us who are benefitting. In these days of acute fuel shortages, it is cheaper and convenient for us to bury our dear departed,” Mr Nhokwara said.
Madzibaba Gamba (Martin Madzura), a Harare-based traditional and faith healer, who is also the Kundiso Apostolic Faith Church leader, said the dead must be left alone.
“The dead must be buried in places that are far from homes. Evil people use cemeteries to conduct their rituals and evil spirits roam graveyards. It is not acceptable and proper for people to live very close to cemeteries,” Madzibaba Gamba said.
He, however, said in some cultures, it is acceptable for family members to be buried near their homes.
“Only family members, and not strangers, can be buried near homes in some Shona cultures. This practice is widely practiced in some areas in Masvingo,” added Madzibaba Gamba.
Pastor Winston Fundira of the Jehovah Sharma Ministries said the dead must be buried in places that are not near people’s homes.
“The Bible clearly states that the dead must only interact with the dead. It is not proper for people to live very close to cemeteries,” Pastor Fundira said.
Some cemeteries have been turned into love nests by prostitutes whilst thieves often share their loot in graveyards.
Some of the cemeteries that are located near homes are Epworth’s Zinyengere and Granville Cemetery, better known as Kumbudzi.
The Glen Forest Memorial Park is also fast approaching the high-density suburb of Hatcliffe.
However, basing on the “cordial relationship” between some Dzivarasekwa residents and those that are buried at Restland Memorial Park, one might be tempted to conclude that unlike in the horror movies in which graveyards are portrayed as creepy places, cemeteries are places of eternal peace, love and serenity.
