Four Arrested for Violating 380 Graves in Harare Cemetery
BY LAVENDER CHABATA
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested four people for disturbing about 380 graves at Restland Memorial Park in Harare. Investigators made this shocking discovery while looking into events from 2015 to 2024.
The suspects are Edwin Muronzi, Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19), and Kudakwashe Humure (21). Tinashe Chiguma reported that he was seeing visions of dead people asking about their relatives. His report led police to arrest him and the others.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of EdwinMuronzi, Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19) and Kudakwashe Humure (21). This is in connection with massive violation of approximately 380 graves and corpses at Restland Memorial Park,Rainham, Harare between 2015 and 2024. On 04th December 2024, police arrested Tinashe Chiguma after he made a report that he had been experiencing visions of dead people requesting to know the whereabouts of their relatives…,” read the Police statement.
Police found that Muronzi hired grave diggers, including the suspects. He paid them between USD 15.00 and USD 20.00 for each grave they dug.
They received instructions to remove human remains to create space for new burials. The workers improperly disposed of the remains in trenches and dams behind the cemetery, along with traditional items buried with the bodies.
Muronzi and his team would clean the disturbed graves and sell them to new clients without revealing their history.
The ZRP is now working with forensic experts to identify the graves that were disturbed and locate the remains through their families. They are also asking the public for help in finding more suspects, known only as Kevy, Shumba, and Dread.
Anyone with information can contact the National Complaints Desk at (0242) 703631, send a WhatsApp message to 0712800 197, or visit a nearby police station.
