Muslim Community Sets Strict Conditions for Chengxi Mine Over Shurugwi Grave Exhumations

Members of Zimbabwe’s Muslim community have laid down stringent conditions for the Chinese-owned Chengxi Mine before consenting to the exhumation of relatives buried at Peak Mine Cemetery in Shurugwi. The planned exhumations affecting dozens of graves dating back to the colonial era are part of efforts to pave the way for expanded gold mining operations in the Botorekwa Escarpments. Led by Sheikh Ishmail Duwa, president of the Halaal Certification Regulatory Board of Zimbabwe, the group met company representative Simba Manyeruke at the District Development Coordinator’s office in Shurugwi, where they presented a detailed list of demands.

The Muslim delegation, comprising about 40 members who travelled from Harare, insisted that Chengxi Mine must bear the full cost of exhumation and reburial, “down to the last cent.”

Their demands go beyond those of local families, who are set to receive transport assistance for relocating remains. The Muslim community argued that their religious and cultural obligations make the process significantly more complex and costly.

Among their key demands are:

• Funding for Islamic burial rituals, such as sadaka

• Transport costs, including potential reburials in Malawi

• Provision of new tombstones to replace existing graves

• Financial support for food during family gatherings is linked to reburials

The group also called for the engagement of a health expert to oversee the exhumation process, citing public health risks associated with disturbing graves that are up to 87 years old. They further requested that Chengxi Mine provide:

• Protective clothing for those participating in the exhumations, including gear to guard against snakes

• Funds for appropriate attire to be worn by family members during the process

“These are not ordinary relocations. They involve religious, cultural and health considerations that must be respected,” one attendee said during the meeting.

Takudzwa Pasipanodya, chief executive officer of Zi-Heritage and Environmental Consultancy, acknowledged that communication challenges had delayed outreach to affected families.

“We were engaged by Chengxi company to exhume and relocate the graves we advertised, and realised that so many people did not get the information about the exhumation, so we are still reaching out,” Pasipanodya said.

He emphasised that exhumations would only proceed with the consent and presence of families.

“We only exhume if we agree with the family, and the family should be there. There are graves of people from Malawi and local Shona communities,” he added.

The cemetery is believed to contain the remains of migrant workers from across Southern Africa, reflecting Zimbabwe’s mining history during the early 20th century. The dispute highlights the growing tension between economic development and cultural heritage preservation, particularly in mining communities where ancestral graves are increasingly affected by expanding operations. For now, the Muslim community’s position is clear: no exhumations will proceed without full compliance with their conditions, setting the stage for complex negotiations between mining interests and cultural stakeholders.

Shurugwi grave exhumations