A BUSINESSMAN has been dragged to court for exhuming 78 bodies for reburial elsewhere to pave way for a private cemetery.
The suspect, Edwin Muronzi (44), appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Isheanesu Matova on Tuesday.
He was released on US$200 bail and ordered to return to court on January 15 pending finalisation of investigations.
He is being charged with infringing the Graves and Corpses Act.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu told the court that sometime in 2015, Muronzi acquired a piece of land measuring 3,6 hectares in Rainham under Zvimba Rural District Council for use as a private cemetery.
The court heard that the land in question was already being used as a cemetery by locals without the knowledge of Zvimba Rural District Council.
Muronzi allegedly applied for the removal of the graves for reburial of the bodies elsewhere to pave way for his private cemetery.
It is alleged that in 2018, the company was granted permission to remove and rebury 69 bodies to pave way for the development of roads and car parks in the new cemetery.
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On December 5 this year, police officers received information to the effect that Muronzi had violated graves at his private cemetery and they went to investigate.
Muronzi submitted paperwork showing that he applied for the reburial of 69 bodies in 2018 to pave way for new developments.
It was, however, discovered that 78 more graves were destroyed and the bodies were buried elsewhere without following due processes.
