A businessman went back to running his cemetery after police arrested him two years back for illegal operations. John Rukodzi put up new signs along Seken Road telling customers his burial business has started again. The cemetery changed its name from Rukodzi Parish to Rukodzi Perish and moved its official address to Murape School. Workers charge sixty dollars for adult graves and thirty dollars for children burials.
Rukodzi faced court charges after selling more than fifty graves at eighty dollars each without permission. He operated the cemetery on government land near Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport without approval from city officials. The Ministry of Local Government wrote letters to police saying they never gave Rukodzi any land for burials. Many families had already buried their relatives at the site before authorities discovered the illegal activities.
Reporters pretended to be a family needing burial services and contacted cemetery workers. The employees told them to meet near Zororo Cemetery for payments and grave viewing. Officials could not confirm whether Rukodzi received proper permits for his current operations. The case sparked debates about respecting burial traditions and following laws when dealing with deceased people.
Traditional leaders called Rukodzi's actions shameful and said he violated African customs about proper burials. They wanted him to face traditional courts rather than criminal ones. The illegal cemetery created conflicts with legitimate burial companies and raised questions about land use around the airport area.
Rukodzi faced court charges after selling more than fifty graves at eighty dollars each without permission. He operated the cemetery on government land near Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport without approval from city officials. The Ministry of Local Government wrote letters to police saying they never gave Rukodzi any land for burials. Many families had already buried their relatives at the site before authorities discovered the illegal activities.
Reporters pretended to be a family needing burial services and contacted cemetery workers. The employees told them to meet near Zororo Cemetery for payments and grave viewing. Officials could not confirm whether Rukodzi received proper permits for his current operations. The case sparked debates about respecting burial traditions and following laws when dealing with deceased people.
Traditional leaders called Rukodzi's actions shameful and said he violated African customs about proper burials. They wanted him to face traditional courts rather than criminal ones. The illegal cemetery created conflicts with legitimate burial companies and raised questions about land use around the airport area.
