Tinaani Nyabereka
MIDLANDS – Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) has set up a burial society as efforts to assist resident in times of difficulty and grief.
The development was confirmed by the Association’s Programs Officer, Fadzai Kanyai during an engagement with the GRRA’s wards chairpersons.
Kanyai highlighted that residents were struggling to give their loved ones a decent funeral and burial, a decision which then prompted the Association to come up with a burial society.
“The concept behind the establishment of the burial society comes at a time the Association realized that residents are struggling to give their loved ones a decent burial.
“So the society through its ward structures decided to establish a burial society which gives every resident room to be involved without much financial restrictions.
“So the society has subscriptions which are going to be paid as set by its committee and they are a US$1 per month and subject to review with time. However for one to join the society he or she is required to be a member of the association first and our funeral cover is very flexible in a way that once one becomes a member of GRRA he can then join five members of his family as beneficiaries in this funeral cover.” she added.
She further added that GRRA was moving forward in implementing its Citizen Participation project under Diakonia.
“We are continuing enhancing our citizen participation a development which entails that gaps are still existing in our communities.
“So as a consortium we are still a implementing the project, because we are looking at citizens participation and leadership where we want them (residents) to be actively involved in governance issues.
“Of cause we have a lot of success stories we have realized in Gweru our relation with the local authority need to be constantly maintained.
“We are also focusing on the issue of citizen involvement where we are looking at youths and women whom we feel should own properties and be aware of their roles in service provision issues in line with governance. It is also good if youths take a leading role in leadership.” she added.
However part of the funeral cover includes tentative amounts of US$150 which is set to benefit a member if he or she dies while beneficiaries get tentative flat amount of US$75 .
GRRA Burial society Chairperson, Silas Mutendeutswa however urged other ward chairpersons to inform the residents on the initiative saying people were supposed to play a pivotal role in driving issues which concern them
Some of the society members include, Ward 15 GRRA chairperson, Ignatio Makaza who was nominated secretary, ward 8 GRRA chairperson, Sarudzai Mhlanga who was nominated vice chairperson, Siphiwe Nzira who was nominated Treasury among other committee members
