By Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube | Zim GBC News Editor
In a decisive move to address a critical shortage of burial space, the Bulawayo City Council has allocated 54 additional hectares of land for the expansion of Luveve Cemetery, a project that will create space for an estimated 100,000 new graves.
The city has been facing a grave crisis, relying solely on the rapidly depleting Luveve Extension and Umvutsha Cemeteries. This new expansion forms a crucial part of the city’s long-term Master Plan to secure burial land for its residents.
Director of Town Planning, Wisdom Siziba, outlined the details of the project in the council’s latest newsletter.
“The Town Planning Department provided for these sites in the Master Plan. A site had been identified to the north and opposite the existing Luveve Cemetery Extension, stretching southwards from the parking lot up to the crematorium,” Siziba stated.
He confirmed that the land, known as Stand 10365 Luveve, is owned by the city and is earmarked for this vital purpose.
Siziba noted that despite cremation being an option, cultural preferences mean demand for traditional burial space continues to grow, necessitating the council’s urgent action.
“The demand for burial space continues to grow, forcing the council to act,” he said.
The ambitious project includes more than just the allocation of land. It will also require the construction of a new 1.96-kilometer access road to link the expanded cemetery to the city’s main thoroughfares.
“Access will be via Luveve Road, turning right onto Intemba Road and left onto Gwabalanda Drive. These roads, especially Gwabalanda Drive, will need rehabilitation to handle increased traffic,” Siziba added.
The full council approved the proposal on September 3.
The land is now set to be handed over to the Health Services Department, which will oversee the formal gazetting of the cemetery and ensure all developments comply with the requirements of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
This significant expansion is expected to alleviate the immense pressure on Bulawayo’s burial system and provide a solution for years to come.
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