The City of Masvingo has officially decommissioned the historic Lawn Cemetery for adult burials after it reached full capacity, leaving only one operational site for adults and intensifying concerns over the city’s shrinking burial space.
For decades, Lawn Cemetery, located in Mucheke, served as the main resting place for countless Masvingo families. Its closure to adult interments marks the end of an era for many residents who have deep emotional and cultural ties to the site. City authorities confirmed that while child burials will still be permitted at the cemetery, there is no longer any room for adult graves.
The closure leaves Yeukai Cemetery in Eastvale as the sole public burial ground for adults within Masvingo’s municipal boundaries. But Yeukai itself is under strain. City officials warn that at the current rate of use, it could reach capacity in just a few years — a development that would leave the city without a single adult burial ground.
Masvingo City Council Town Clerk, Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa, told the Daily News that the decision to close Lawn Cemetery was unavoidable.
“The Lawn Cemetery has run out of burial space for adults. We have officially decommissioned it for that purpose, and only children can still be buried there,” Mukaratirwa said. “At the moment, Yeukai Cemetery is the only site open for adult burials, but its capacity is also limited.”
He added that while the council is actively seeking land for a new cemetery, bureaucratic processes such as environmental assessments, budget approvals, and site preparation are slowing progress.
The closure has been met with sadness and frustration from residents, many of whom had planned to have their loved ones buried at Lawn alongside relatives.
“I buried my parents at Lawn Cemetery and had hoped my husband would be laid to rest there too,” said local resident Mrs. Chikowore. “Now I have to look for space elsewhere, which is painful and more expensive.”
Some families are now considering private cemeteries or returning to rural home areas for burials — options that are either financially burdensome or logistically difficult. Those without rural connections face an even more pressing challenge, especially if Yeukai runs out of space.
Masvingo Decommissions Lawn Cemetery as Burial Space Runs Out
Masvingo, one of Zimbabwe’s oldest urban centres, has experienced steady population growth and expansion over the last two decades. However, urban planners say the city’s cemetery infrastructure has not kept pace.
“Infrastructure planning in many municipalities has lagged behind population growth,” a local urban planning consultant noted. “Cemeteries are often overlooked until a crisis occurs, as we are now seeing in Masvingo.”
The consultant added that the situation in Masvingo mirrors challenges in other Zimbabwean cities, where land is fiercely contested between housing, commercial development, and essential public services like cemeteries.
To address the looming crisis, the city is weighing both short- and long-term strategies:
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Establishing a new public cemetery outside current city limits.
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Expanding Yeukai Cemetery by acquiring adjacent land.
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Encouraging cremation as an alternative, though uptake is likely to be slow due to cultural and religious resistance.
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Partnering with private investors to develop commercial cemeteries.
Mukaratirwa said the council is also studying how other cities manage burial space to adopt more sustainable practices in the long term.
The shortage has also triggered a wider discussion on burial traditions. Many residents strongly prefer traditional interments, whether in established cemeteries or rural family plots. Cremation, high-density burial systems, or other unconventional methods are often viewed as culturally inappropriate.
Religious leaders have called on the municipality to balance practical solutions with respect for tradition.
“Our burial traditions are deeply rooted in culture and faith,” said Reverend Tawanda M, a local church leader. “Any changes must be made in full consultation with the community.”
Ward councillor Memory Mutare stressed that the city must move quickly.
“We cannot wait until Yeukai is full before acting,” she warned. “Planning must be proactive, not reactive. This is a matter of dignity for our residents.”
Some residents argue that burial infrastructure should be prioritised in the municipal budget over less urgent projects, calling dignified burial a basic human right.
For now, Masvingo’s burial options are narrowing rapidly. If the city fails to secure and prepare a new site soon, it could face the unprecedented situation of having no public burial ground for adults — forcing a dramatic and potentially unpopular shift in burial practices.
As one elderly resident summed it up:
“In life, we can adapt to many changes, but death comes to us all. The city must be ready for that reality.”
Source- Dailynews
