Sand Poachers ‘Invade’ Graveyard, Human Remains Scattered ‘Everywhere’

Sand poachers have reportedly invaded Zinyengere Cemetery in the dormitory town of Epworth, stripping graves, collecting human remains and throwing them into the nearby Jacha stream, all in search of pit sand.

George Chigwida, an Epworth resident, got the shock of his life recently after he visited his 18-month-old daughter’s grave only to find it no longer there.

Speaking in an interview with The Sunday Mail, said he has since abandoned his plans to erect a tombstone for his daughter after the grave was desecrated. He said:

I could not believe my eyes when I first saw that my daughter’s grave had disappeared. I wondered if I had forgotten her burial site.

However, after moving around the graveyard, I discovered that a number of other graves had also been violated.

I had plans to erect a tombstone for my daughter, but I cannot do that anymore.

The local board has failed us. I am angry that they cannot protect the cemetery.

I will continue to urge them to protect this place.

Combined Epworth Original Residents Development Trust chairman, Joel Mupfudza, implored the Environmental Management Agency and other law enforcement agencies to protect the graveyard. Mupfudza:

What is distressing is that we are not getting action from law enforcement agencies. We implore the Environmental Management Agency to do more.

We have approached the Epworth police and they said they don’t have the manpower to deal with the sand poachers, who are violent.

The local council (Epworth Local Board) has ignored what is going on; it is not taking any action.

Epworth Local Board secretary Wilton Mhanda conceded that sand poachers were a menace but said the issue has been blown out of proportion. He said:

Yes, there are sand poachers, but the situation is exaggerated. We usually conduct raids and culprits are brought to book.

Epworth Member of Parliament, Zalerah Makari (ZANU PF), accused some local councillors of being part of sand poaching syndicates. She said:

I have tried to engage them, but they seem to turn a deaf ear to my plea. It is the council’s mandate to safeguard such infrastructure.

I even suggested that they set up a council police base in conjunction with the ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police).

I have since talked to the Combined Epworth Original Residents Development Trust leadership, with whom we’ll set a date for re-engagement with the local authority.

ZRP community liaison officer for Epworth, Sergeant Maliana Davis, said they were not aware of any cemetery invasion by sand poachers.

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