TSHIMBUPFE - To the people who have buried their beloved in the graveyard of Tshimbupfe, the fact that cattle are presently grazing inside the graveyard, next to the tombstones, is the cause of great sorrow.

A lot of the tombstones in the graveyard have fallen down due and are in a bad state, due to the cattle that are roaming around in the graveyard. The residents of Tshimbupfe and others from different areas around the graveyard, who buried their relatives with dignity, are angry with the owners of the cattle who do not take care of their animals.

Some of the people who would like to bury their relatives in the graveyard, have lost interest because there is no security around it. The fence around the graveyard was cut by some unknown people, who made it easy for the cattle to graze inside.

One of the residents, Mrs Elisah Tshikovhi, said that she had buried her younger sister, Tshinakaho Mulaudzi, with dignity. She stated that her younger sister's tombstone had been pushed away several times and replaced, and she had paid a lot of money to a builder who had to put it back again. "I do not think that those people who are leaving their cattle inside the graveyard, have buried their own loved ones there. They are jealous of us who have buried our relatives," said an outraged Tshikovhi.

Tshikovhi believes more could be done to bring dignity to the deceased in the graveyard. "I think if we can clean up the whole graveyard and fence it again, we could show our beloved people a bit of respect," she said.

Community leader, Dovhani Sadiki, said that people should respect and honour the graveyard and the people who have been laid to rest there. "We are living in a democratic country, but it does not mean that we should not respect the graveyard. We plead with the owners of the cattle to look after their animals and make sure they do not graze in the graveyard", Sadiki said.

He said there is law enforcement in the village but no one is following the laws put up in place and said those who fail to obey the law will be dealt with severely. "We need all the people to inform all the civic structures if this plight is still continuing", said Sadiki.