Four Arrested Over Desecration of Hundreds of Graves at Harare Cemetery

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested four individuals accused of desecrating 380 graves and exhuming corpses at Restland Memorial Park in Rainham, Harare.

The suspects, identified as Edwin Muronzi, Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19), and Kudakwashe Humure (21), are alleged to have committed these acts between 2015 and 2024.

Police investigations revealed the accused worked as gravediggers and were instructed to excavate existing graves to make space for new burials.

The skeletal remains were reportedly packed into cement bags, wrapped in burial garments, and discarded in trenches or a nearby dam behind the cemetery grounds.

A statement from the ZRP detailed how Chiguma, the first suspect apprehended, reported experiencing unsettling visions of deceased individuals seeking answers about their relatives’ whereabouts.

Chiguma implicated his employer, Muronzi, alongside his co-accused, Gwanya and Humure. This led to their arrests. Other suspects remain at large.

The alleged operation saw gravediggers receive payments between USD 15.00 and USD 20.00 per grave. Muronzi reportedly orchestrated the entire scheme.

Authorities say graves were cleaned and rearranged after tampering, ensuring new clients remained unaware of any wrongdoing during subsequent burials.

Forensic investigations are underway to identify desecrated graves and match exhumed remains with their respective families.

Police are also working to locate artifacts buried with bodies, which were removed and discarded by the accused.

ZRP has issued a public appeal for information to aid in capturing other suspects, including individuals known as Kevy, Shumba, and Dread.

Anyone with relevant details has been encouraged to contact the National Complaints Desk or report to the nearest police station.

This case has shocked many, raising questions about cemetery management and the security of final resting places in Harare.

As forensic teams comb through evidence, families of the deceased await closure, hoping the desecrated graves can be restored with dignity.

The Zim Bulletin