-offers unique Muslim burial
-premiums that suit every pocket
BUSINESS REPORTER
MASVINGO CITY-In a move that is set to change the business landscape in the ancient city, a world class funeral parlour has set up base in Masvingo that will service the whole of the southern part of the country.
The Harare headquartered, Stone River Funeral Services aka Chitomborizwi will service places like Britbridge, Rutenga, Bubi, Chiredzi, Mvuma, Zvishavane, Mberengwa among others in the southern part of the country and is situated at number 7933 Downtown Street next to Uncle Jaunda Garments.
Multi award winning Stone River chief executive officer, Tawanda Pilime confirmed the exciting developments to The Midweek Watch in an exclusive interview last weekend during a site visit of the new premises.
“We are on the roll and have opened our latest branch here in Masvingo along Downtown Street, this will change the way funeral business is conducted in the area.
“We are new, but ready to conquer as we have already opened three branches in Harare, Nyamapanda, Glendale and Muatre City. We will be offering state of the art services from policy level, claims, parlour services to burial,” he said.
Pilime said they have named their services Chitomborwizi and their logo has three stones and water resembling chisipite, an overflowing spring or fountain.
He also said they provide funeral services which are exclusive to Muslims with strict adherence to their culture where there is washing of the body soon after death and burial of the body facing the Mecca and not in a coffin as compared to the conventional burial rites in Zimbabwe.
“I am a Muslim myself and we have decided not to mix different burial cultures hence we have separated them where we offer exclusive services to mainly Christians and Muslims separately.
“We thrive to help our clients mourn their departed loved ones with dignity and respect. We also subscribe to the notion that, no two funerals are the same, hence we thrive to make each funeral a memorable one tailored to suit the different situations,” he said.
Stone River has brought a fresh breath of professionalism in the life assurance sector where every person is catered for, from low subscription fees and those at the top end, no one is being left behind.
Pilime said the idea of offering funeral assurance services started in 2017 and in 2022 the company was conceptualized and in 2023 it was formally incorporated, with the mandate to collect subscriptions from the public as it was now registered with the regulator, Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) as well as being a member of the respected Funeral Services Association of Zimbabwe.
Stone River offers various packages that suit everyone in the country which are; Muslim Standard at US$80 and includes grocery, tatu, kaffan, sanda, hearse and janaza; Muslim Oldsters which goes for US$200 with the same packages, Chitomborwizi lite where one pays just US$2.50 per month and US$5 for the whole family which has a hearse, casket, grocery and grave equipment as part of the package.
There is also Chitomborwizi Basic which goes for US$3 per head and US$6 for the whole family no matter how big and has a 3 tier casket, hearse, grocery and covers 100km radius, then there is Chitomborwizi Standard where one contributes US$4 per head and US$8 for the whole family with groceries, dome casket, hearse and grave equipment.
There is also Chitomborwizi Premium which goes with a contribution of US$7.50 per head and US$15 for the family and the other benefits, and at the apex there is Chitomborwizi Oldster which attracts an investment of US$10 per head with top benefits like grocery worth over US$200 accompanied with a dome casket, hearse and grave equipment.
“There are some exciting benefits incorporated in our packages like if one adds a dollar on their premiums they stand to benefit a cash back of US$250 up to US$4 for one to get US$1000 cash back which can be used for other things during a funeral since the policy may not take care of all the requirements,” said Pilime.
Stone River offers services like body removal from an accident scene, from home deaths and their mortuary has alternative power in the case of electricity blackout in order to preserve the body under the appropriate temperature.
They also offer practical funeral arrangements like death documentation, registration, grave purchases, crematorium services, embalming of the body transportation of mourners, provision of chapel staff, repatriation of loved ones who die in foreign lands as well as expatriation which may be cumbersome to individuals, but with Stone River they engage professionals trained for that, who will do all the paper work.
There are also extras like, videography, photography, laces, flowers, catering, tents and chairs.
Stone River’s values which include trust, professionalism, compassion, innovation, quality and accountability sets it apart from other service providers in the industry.
Pilime did his primary up to tertiary education in the capital and is a seasoned administrator and business executive who has won many accolades in his journey to establish Stone River.
In 2023 his company was adjudged the fastest growing funeral services provider at the Trailblazer Zimbabwe awards.
At the CEO Roundtable awards last year, Pilime was accorded the Best CEO and a Humanitarian award at the Changamire awards dinner.
Pilime is also a philanthropist of note as he is taking 45 children to school through Chitomborwizi Foundation and has also opened a school of mortuary science in Harare that takes in 30 students for a month course as part of giving back to the society.
Stone River is manned by well trained drivers, parlour attendances, policy agents and office staff that value customers and service providers.
