Government stops Seke Road cemetery project

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

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 Minister Mombeshora has since written a letter to his counterpart, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, objecting to the construction of the project.

Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter

Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora has stopped construction of a private cemetery project that was approved by the Harare City Council indicating it is located over the main trunk of Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant, which would pose a serious health risk for Harare residents.

Harare City Council issued a permit approving Watervlei Burial Memorial Park along Seke Road.

However, residents and other stakeholders raised concerns over the risks associated with decomposing human remains, which may lead to contamination of both treated and raw water supplies should there be a a burst pipe within the cemetery.

This saw the Ministry of Health and Child Care instituting an inquiry to establish the suitability of the cemetery project.

Minister Mombeshora has since written a letter to his counterpart, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, objecting to the construction of the project.

Minister Mombeshora also noted that developers failed to hold public consultations as provided for by the law.

“….The proposed project is located next to Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant. This violates World Health Organisation guidelines that indicate that a cemetery should be at least 1-2 km from a water treatment site.

‘In addition, a buffer zone is required between the cemetery and the water treatment plant. There are water pipes that run through the cemetery and this exposes the water to contamination from fluids and chemicals from graves,” reads Minister Mombeshora’s letter.

“It is my duty as Minister of Health and Child Care to enforce laws and regulations that protect public health and safety; and (n) to administer the provisions of the Public Health Act. In the interest of public health, this project must be stopped. The council is advised to be guided by a health impact assessment when dealing with such projects.”

The Harare City Council had issued a permit for the project despite an earlier warning from the Harare Water Department.

Early this year, Minister Garwe expressed strong objections to the council’s decision, attributing it to possible corruption and lack of due diligence.

He said initially, some councillors from Harare City Council had been sold the land through corrupt means as stands, but the Government reversed the decision. This prompted some crooked council officials to change plans and seek to establish a cemetery.

Harare City Council acting director of Urban Planning, Mr Samuel Nyabezi had defended their decision to issue a permit before an Environmental Impact Assessment was done saying the EIA process is expensive, adding that it would not be proper for one to incur such high costs when there was no guarantee that a permit would be granted.