Grave Dispute at Bulawayo Cemetery: A Call for Exhumation to Resolve Family Feud
A grave dispute at Bulawayo’s West Park Cemetery involves two families claiming their relatives are buried in the same grave. The conflict escalated following one family’s placement of a tombstone. An investigation revealed one burial record while the other lacks grave specification. Following council recommendations for an exhumation, both families now await resolution.
A peculiar dispute has arisen in Bulawayo, compelling City Council involvement regarding a grave contention at West Park Cemetery’s Old Anglican Section. Two families assert that their deceased relatives were interred in the same grave, prompting a request for council assistance to fund an exhumation for clarification.
The conflict centers on families of the late Florence Saunyama and Caleb Somkence, both claiming that their loved ones occupy Grave 19. The situation escalated when the Somkence family placed a tombstone at the site, believing their relative rested there, despite city records indicating that Florence Saunyama was buried in Grave 19 in 2003, whereas Caleb Somkence’s burial in 2004 lacks a recorded grave number.
Investigation findings by the Director of Health Services revealed discrepancies in burial records that have deepened the confusion. According to these records, Florence Saunyama was interred on September 24, 2003, in Grave 19, while Caleb Somkence’s burial lacks a specific grave designation. This uncertainty is compounded by two unmarked graves adjacent to the disputed site, complicating identification efforts.
To address this challenging situation, a meeting held on January 8, 2025, resulted in a recommendation for exhumation to conclusively determine whose remains are in Grave 19. Reports suggested that exhumation may also require the opening of nearby graves to explore the potential interment of one of the deceased individuals.
The council’s Health Services Department has since received authorization to allocate resources for the exhumation process, which is set to commence. Both families await resolution, hopeful that forthcoming disclosures will finally allow them to put their loved ones to rest with certainty.
In conclusion, the dispute over Grave 19 at West Park Cemetery reflects significant familial tensions and a pressing need for clarity regarding interments. Council intervention marks an important step toward resolution, with exhumation proposed as a necessary measure to identify remains accurately. Both families are poised for potential closure, demonstrating the profound importance of addressing such sensitive matters with care and respect.
Original Source: www.thezimbabwemail.com
