A grave dispute in Bulawayo involves two families claiming their relatives are buried in the same grave at West Park Cemetery. The City Council has intervened to resolve the matter, recommending an exhumation to determine the rightful ownership of Grave 19, where Florence Saunyama was buried in 2003, and Caleb Somkence’s burial remains unrecorded.
A peculiar dispute has arisen in Bulawayo, compelling the City Council to step in to mitigate tensions. The conflict centers on West Park Cemetery’s Old Anglican Section, where two families contend that their respective deceased relatives were interred in the same grave. Both families have sought assistance from local authorities to fund an exhumation to ascertain the rightful owner of the grave in question.
The issue involves the families of the late Florence Saunyama and Caleb Somkence, both asserting that their loved ones were buried in Grave 19 of the Old Anglican General Section. The controversy intensified when the Somkence family installed a tombstone at the site, firmly believing their relative was laid to rest there. However, municipal records indicate that Florence Saunyama was buried in Grave 19 in 2003, while Caleb Somkence’s burial in the same section in 2004 lacks a recorded grave number.
A report from the Director of Health Services, presented on February 10, 2025, shed light on the burial records. It confirmed that Florence Saunyama was indeed buried in Grave 19 on September 24, 2003. Although Caleb Somkence was buried in the same section, the absence of an exact grave number has contributed to the ongoing uncertainty. The presence of two unmarked graves adjacent to the disputed grave further complicates the situation, obscuring the identification of the remains.
In conclusion, the grave dispute in Bulawayo has led to an unusual family contention requiring municipal intervention for resolution. The City Council’s findings align Florence Saunyama’s burial with Grave 19, whereas Caleb Somkence’s grave number remains unspecified. The decision to pursue exhumation seeks to provide clarity and closure to both families, highlighting the complexities surrounding burial records and the importance of accurate documentation.
Original Source: www.thezimbabwemail.com
