FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO – Chief Fortune Charumbira has raised concern over the growing practice of illegal home burials taking place in resettlement areas, saying the trend goes against established regulations.
Chief Charumbira made the remarks following the burial of a minor in Manyama resettlement area, where the deceased was laid to rest at a homestead instead of a designated cemetery.
Speaking on the issue, Chief Charumbira said residents in Manyama village and other resettlement areas should stop burying relatives at home and instead use common cemeteries established for communities.
He said resettlement areas are governed by policies that differ from those in communal lands, where home burials are traditionally permitted.
“People in resettlement areas are not supposed to bury their loved ones at homesteads. There are designated common cemeteries for such purposes. These policies are different from those in communal areas,” he said.
Charumbira warned that continued home burials could create future land management challenges and disrupt orderly settlement planning.
He urged residents and local leadership to comply with burial regulations and preserve proper land administration in resettlement communities.
