Morogoro's cemetery thefts highlight community grief and calls for better protection of sacred sites in the face of rising scrap metal demand.
Vandalism and Theft Plague Morogoro's Cemeteries: A Community in Mourning
Vandalism and Theft Plague Morogoro's Cemeteries: A Community in Mourning
In Morogoro, Tanzania, families grapple with the devastation caused by grave desecration as thieves target crosses for scrap.
In the eastern Tanzanian city of Morogoro, a wave of vandalism has left families distraught as thieves target the graves of their loved ones. Over 250 graves in Kola Municipal Cemetery have been damaged, with robbers stealing metal crucifixes and other markers in hopes of selling them for scrap. The crimes often occur at night when security is scarce, leaving families to deal with the emotional aftermath of desecration.
Pudensiana Chumbi, who has visited the cemetery for over two decades to honor her daughter and mother, expressed her grief after their graves were repeatedly targeted. "This is my child's grave," she said, referring to the damage inflicted on her daughter’s memorial. The first loss came when her mother's grave was vandalized, followed by the theft of a new cross placed on her daughter's grave shortly thereafter. Chumbi revealed that she now fears using metal replacements due to repeated thefts.
The disturbing trend of grave thefts in Morogoro has been driven by a rising demand for scrap metal, with criminals able to earn a meager sum for their spoils. The illicit practice has incited outrage in the community, prompting some locals to take matters into their own hands by demanding payment to watch over graves at night. “The people doing this are cursed because everyone is sad about what is going on,” Chumbi lamented.
Augustine Remmy, Chumbi’s brother, echoed the sentiments of the community, stating, "This is too bad… it truly hurts a lot.” The motive behind these thefts often stems from economic desperation, albeit at the cost of sacredness and respect for the deceased. Young men, driven by the potential profit, have been caught in the act, as one anonymous thief described the process of cutting stolen crosses with welders before bartering them in the scrap market.
While some metal dealers are wary and refuse to purchase stolen goods, the lack of oversight permits many transactions to occur without question. Izire Ramadhani, a scrap dealer in Morogoro, recounted a previous incident where a thief was reported, leading to a brief decrease in thefts. Despite this, thefts have resurged, highlighting the need for better regulatory measures.
Efforts to combat this trend are underway, with local health officer Dr. Ndimile Kilatu proposing improvements to cemetery security, including fences and night watchmen. However, he cautioned that implementing such measures would require time and money. On a government level, Deputy Prime Minister Dotto Biteko stressed the necessity for stricter enforcement of scrap metal regulations.
Community leaders, including Pastor Steven Msigara, have called for collective action to restore dignity to these sacred places, urging the youth to respect the memory of the deceased. For families like Chumbi’s, the anguish continues as they rebuild, often opting for more secure materials like concrete in place of metal, uncertain about when or if the thefts will cease.
Pudensiana Chumbi, who has visited the cemetery for over two decades to honor her daughter and mother, expressed her grief after their graves were repeatedly targeted. "This is my child's grave," she said, referring to the damage inflicted on her daughter’s memorial. The first loss came when her mother's grave was vandalized, followed by the theft of a new cross placed on her daughter's grave shortly thereafter. Chumbi revealed that she now fears using metal replacements due to repeated thefts.
The disturbing trend of grave thefts in Morogoro has been driven by a rising demand for scrap metal, with criminals able to earn a meager sum for their spoils. The illicit practice has incited outrage in the community, prompting some locals to take matters into their own hands by demanding payment to watch over graves at night. “The people doing this are cursed because everyone is sad about what is going on,” Chumbi lamented.
Augustine Remmy, Chumbi’s brother, echoed the sentiments of the community, stating, "This is too bad… it truly hurts a lot.” The motive behind these thefts often stems from economic desperation, albeit at the cost of sacredness and respect for the deceased. Young men, driven by the potential profit, have been caught in the act, as one anonymous thief described the process of cutting stolen crosses with welders before bartering them in the scrap market.
While some metal dealers are wary and refuse to purchase stolen goods, the lack of oversight permits many transactions to occur without question. Izire Ramadhani, a scrap dealer in Morogoro, recounted a previous incident where a thief was reported, leading to a brief decrease in thefts. Despite this, thefts have resurged, highlighting the need for better regulatory measures.
Efforts to combat this trend are underway, with local health officer Dr. Ndimile Kilatu proposing improvements to cemetery security, including fences and night watchmen. However, he cautioned that implementing such measures would require time and money. On a government level, Deputy Prime Minister Dotto Biteko stressed the necessity for stricter enforcement of scrap metal regulations.
Community leaders, including Pastor Steven Msigara, have called for collective action to restore dignity to these sacred places, urging the youth to respect the memory of the deceased. For families like Chumbi’s, the anguish continues as they rebuild, often opting for more secure materials like concrete in place of metal, uncertain about when or if the thefts will cease.
