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Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]

GWERU City Council (GCC) residents have expressed their disappointment over the council’s proposed 2025 budget, which includes significant increases in cemetery fees, rising by more than 100 percent.

According to the proposed cemetery charges, the cost of an adult grave will skyrocket to US$200, up from US$52. For child and stillborn burials, the local authority is proposing an increase to US$100 from US$26, while the burial of ashes will rise to US$250, up from US$83,20. The scattering of ashes will also increase to US$200, up from US$52.

The local authority is proposing that the maintenance of graves for senior citizens rise to US$100 from US$20,80, while the cost of reserving a memorial plot will go up to US$400 from US$104.

Cremation fees are expected to jump to US$300 from US$62,40, and tombstone erection fees will rise to US$200 from US$52.
“For weekend burials, fees for child burials in the town area are expected to climb to US$100 from US$26 and adult burials will rise to US$200 from US$52,” reads part of the proposed 2025 budget.

The local authority is also proposing that non-resident fees for adult burials on weekdays go up to US$300 from US$124,80 and to US$600 on weekends from US$166,40. High-density suburb non-resident fees will rise to US$400 from US$208 on weekends and to US$200 from US$104 on weekdays.

The Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) executive director, Mr Cornelia Selipiwe, called the hikes insensitive and outrageous.

“The proposed cemetery tariffs are insensitive, they are outrageous and exorbitant. We urge the local authority to instead increase penalty fees on unapproved construction to cover financial needs,” he said.

Gweru Residents Trust (GRT) chairperson, Mr Antony Madzivanyika, expressed disappointment with the figures raised by the council in the proposed 2025 budget.
“According to the figures presented, the increases in cemetery fees will be more than 100 percent, which we feel is not justified under the prevailing economic conditions. Council should look at other income-generating projects instead of milking residents in mourning through these irrational fees,” he said.

GCC acting director of finance, Mr Michael Verenga, said the proposed increases in burial fees have been necessitated by the need for the local authority to maintain its cemeteries properly.

“As we speak, residents are complaining that as a local authority we are not maintaining our cemeteries. This is because the current tariffs are not viable for us to maintain the cemeteries. So with the new tariffs, we are positive that we will be able to maintain the cemeteries,” he said.

The city also proposed a 50 percent tax tariff relief for industry and commerce, which officials say will result in US$5,8 million flowing into the local economy.