The dead centre of Lusaka
Dec 10, 2016 13:05:51 GMT
Post by onlyMark on Dec 10, 2016 13:05:51 GMT
You live in Lusaka and you've just died.
You won't be bothered about much at all, but your relatives will. The main problem they will have is planting you somewhere. The choice would normally be in the Christian world to be burnt or planted but in Zambia, which is predominantly Christian, they don't believe in being cremated. It is said, "Local law allows cremation, but the country’s Christian majority rejects that option, usually on the grounds that it goes against Biblical teaching."
"Pukuta Mwanza, executive director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, says cremation would be a “serious doctrinal departure.”
About that I have no idea. What I do know though is that there are three public cemeteries in Lusaka – and they all are full. They are very popular because everyone is dying to get there.
There are about 900 burials a month in the capital and people are having to resort to digging a hole in one of the access tracks through the cemeteries.
"Mayor Nyendwa said while some plans could be underway to rehabilitate roads at the Leopards Hill cemetery, there was very little that could be done at the Chingwere where people were now burying on the road due to lack of burial space. “People are burying on the roads at the Chunga/ Chingwere cemetery because there is no more space for burials,” he said."
Reports are that illegal plots are being sold and the grave diggers are also frequently unearthing previous bodies whilst trying to find enough space to dig a new hole.
The one I visited today is called Leopards Hill Cemetery. It is about 275 hectares, 680 acres and is the middle one in size of the three. The public part is. There is also a private memorial area that I didn't visit, mainly because it is all manicured lawns and well set out, just the sort of place that we've all visited. The local one to me is a lot more appealing.
A burial permit cost about $2 and the government has usually provided subsidies for public plots but the private areas cost between $200 - $500.
Considering the gross national income in Zambia was about $1,680 in 2014, according to the World Bank, it is a big financial undertaking (pun intended).
Leopards Hill is massive and rambling. There are a number of access points as it abuts a main road and there is no fence or wall to separate it.
This is on one of the official entrances. We'll see it again later –
You won't be bothered about much at all, but your relatives will. The main problem they will have is planting you somewhere. The choice would normally be in the Christian world to be burnt or planted but in Zambia, which is predominantly Christian, they don't believe in being cremated. It is said, "Local law allows cremation, but the country’s Christian majority rejects that option, usually on the grounds that it goes against Biblical teaching."
"Pukuta Mwanza, executive director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, says cremation would be a “serious doctrinal departure.”
About that I have no idea. What I do know though is that there are three public cemeteries in Lusaka – and they all are full. They are very popular because everyone is dying to get there.
There are about 900 burials a month in the capital and people are having to resort to digging a hole in one of the access tracks through the cemeteries.
"Mayor Nyendwa said while some plans could be underway to rehabilitate roads at the Leopards Hill cemetery, there was very little that could be done at the Chingwere where people were now burying on the road due to lack of burial space. “People are burying on the roads at the Chunga/ Chingwere cemetery because there is no more space for burials,” he said."
Reports are that illegal plots are being sold and the grave diggers are also frequently unearthing previous bodies whilst trying to find enough space to dig a new hole.
The one I visited today is called Leopards Hill Cemetery. It is about 275 hectares, 680 acres and is the middle one in size of the three. The public part is. There is also a private memorial area that I didn't visit, mainly because it is all manicured lawns and well set out, just the sort of place that we've all visited. The local one to me is a lot more appealing.
A burial permit cost about $2 and the government has usually provided subsidies for public plots but the private areas cost between $200 - $500.
Considering the gross national income in Zambia was about $1,680 in 2014, according to the World Bank, it is a big financial undertaking (pun intended).
Leopards Hill is massive and rambling. There are a number of access points as it abuts a main road and there is no fence or wall to separate it.
This is on one of the official entrances. We'll see it again later –
