Grave Dispute in Bulawayo: Families Seek Resolution Through Exhumation

A grave dispute has emerged in Bulawayo, where two families claim their relatives are buried in the same grave at West Park Cemetery. The City Council is intervening, recommending an exhumation to resolve the dispute, as conflicting burial records have led to confusion. Both families hope for closure as the council prepares to conduct this rare procedure.

A grave dispute has arisen in Bulawayo, necessitating intervention from the City Council to alleviate tensions between two families over the burial site of their relatives. This controversy centers around Grave 19 at West Park Cemetery’s Old Anglican Section, with each family claiming their deceased member lies interred there. In an unusual turn, both families have requested the council to fund an exhumation to resolve this matter definitively.

The dispute involves the families of Florence Saunyama and Caleb Somkence, each asserting that their respective loved ones were buried in the aforementioned grave. Tensions escalated when the Somkence family installed a tombstone at the site, believing their relative is buried there. However, city records indicate that Florence Saunyama was buried in Grave 19 in 2003, while Caleb Somkence was buried in 2004 without a recorded grave number.

A report from the Director of Health Services, presented on February 10, 2025, summarized findings from an investigation into the burial records. The records confirm Florence Saunyama’s interment in Grave 19, while confirming Caleb Somkence’s burial in the same section, albeit with no specific grave number documented. The presence of two unmarked graves nearby further complicates the situation, obscuring the exact location of the remains.

To resolve the intricacies of this case, a meeting on January 8, 2025, involved representatives from both families, leading to a recommendation for exhumation to identify the remains buried in Grave 19. This may also necessitate the opening of adjacent graves to ascertain whether one of the deceased persons resides there. Following this, the Health Services Department requested authorization for funding the exhumation, which has been approved by the council.

As preparations for this rare procedure commence, families involved are left in suspense, hoping for conclusive answers that would allow them to honor their loved ones appropriately.

The ongoing grave dispute in Bulawayo highlights the complications that can arise from burial records and family claims. Due to the conflicting assertions from the Saunyama and Somkence families regarding interment in Grave 19, local authorities have decided on an exhumation to clarify the situation. The council’s intervention aims to provide closure for both families, who await definitive answers regarding the resting places of their deceased relatives.

Original Source: www.thezimbabwemail.com