Edwin Munyaradzi Muronzi, the director of Restland Memorial Park, has been granted bail of US$200 after appearing before Harare Magistrate Mr Isheanesu Matova. Muronzi faces charges of violating the Graves and Corpses Act following allegations of unlawfully exhuming graves at the cemetery.
While initial reports suggested a staggering 380 graves had been disturbed, Detective Assistant Inspector Tirivangani Madhibha clarified that the number of illegally exhumed graves stands at 78. This figure, added to the 69 graves legally exhumed in 2018 with council approval, brings the total to 147.
The case against Muronzi stems from his purchase of a 36-hectare property in Rainham in 2015, intended for the development of a private cemetery. Prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Jambawu informed the court that this land was unknowingly already a burial site used by local residents, a fact previously unknown to the Zvimba Rural District Council.
In 2018, Restland Memorial Park received permission to exhume and rebury 69 graves to facilitate the construction of cemetery infrastructure, including roads and parking. Muronzi reportedly employed workers to carry out these authorised exhumations.
However, the investigation into the illegal activities at Restland Memorial Park revealed a far more sinister operation. The police investigation began on December 5th when officers from ZRP Mabelreign received reports of suspected grave violations. Their investigation uncovered evidence of human remains amidst newly dug graves.
While Muronzi presented documentation for the 69 approved exhumations from 2018, investigators discovered the additional 78 graves had been unlawfully exhumed and their remains reburied. He was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for these unauthorised exhumations, leading to his arrest.
The arrest of Muronzi wasn’t an isolated incident. Three grave diggers – Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19), and Kudakwashe Humure (31) – were also apprehended.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) National Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests, stating: “The ZRP confirms the arrest of Edwin Muronzi, Tinashe Chiguma (32), Moses Gwanya (19) and Kudakwashe Humure (31) in connection with massive violation of approximately 380 graves and corpses at Restland Memorial Park, Rainham, Harare, between 2015 and 2024.”
Three further suspects, known only as Kevy, Shumba, and Dread, remain at large.
The investigation gained momentum following an unusual confession. Tinashe Chiguma, one of the arrested grave diggers, reported experiencing disturbing visions and nightmares.
Commissioner Nyathi explained: “On 4 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.”
Chiguma’s account implicated Muronzi and detailed a systematic pattern of grave robbing conducted under the cover of darkness.
According to police, the operation involved the exhumation of numerous bodies. “The gravediggers received instructions from Muronzi to dig the graves to pave the way for new graves and subsequent burials,” said Nyathi.
The workers removed human skeletal remains and any accompanying traditional artefacts, packing them into empty cement bags before disposing of them in a dam trench near the cemetery.
“They would also dispose of the traditional artefacts buried with the bodies. Muronzi and his team would then resell the graves to new clients to bury their late relatives without suspecting anything after cleaning and rearranging the used graves,” Nyathi added.
The financial reward for this horrific undertaking was surprisingly meagre. Each grave digger received between US$15 and US$20 per grave – a paltry sum considering the gravity of their actions. This suggests a highly organised operation, with Muronzi likely profiting significantly from the resale of the graves. The operation’s nine-year duration points to sophisticated planning and execution, raising concerns about potential complicity from others.
Further details emerged from other sources, shedding additional light on the operation’s origins. H-Metro reported that Muronzi took over a previously used piece of land, employing casual labourers to clear the area. It was during this clearing that the workers encountered existing graves, marking the beginning of the exhumations in 2015.
One of Muronzi’s employees, Life Chiguma (Tinashe Chiguma’s aunt’s son), who served as the cemetery manager, employed Tinashe as a grave digger. Tinashe’s subsequent nightmares, beginning in February of this year, played a crucial role in bringing the operation to light. His decision to seek spiritual help and subsequently report the matter to the police ultimately led to the arrests and the exposure of this long-running scheme.
The case against Muronzi continues, highlighting the urgent need for stricter oversight in cemetery management and the handling of sensitive burial sites. The sheer scale of the alleged crime, and the callous disregard for the deceased and their families, has understandably caused considerable distress and raised serious questions about the regulation of private cemeteries. The ongoing police investigation, involving forensic specialists, aims to identify the disturbed graves and, where possible, the identities of the exhumed remains. This is a complex and time-consuming process, but essential to bringing closure to the affected families.
This led him to flee his home and seek refuge in the bush and at the homes of others. He described exhuming over 40 bodies over five years, receiving US$15 per exhumation. He recounted the details of exhuming the body of a traditional healer, disposing of it along with their paraphernalia in a dam.
His mother, Molly Takavanda (50), and Priscilla Kativhu (60), who provided him shelter, corroborated his account. Commissioner Paul Nyathi acknowledged the case, stating: “This is a case we are now beginning to investigate; we will see how things unfold. We commend your work, journalists, in bringing such hidden issues to light.”
