Full Breakdown
Zimbabwe Burial Societies Expand to Support the Living
6/11/2026, 3:10:36 PM
Expanding Role of Burial Societies in Harare
In Harare’s Kuwadzana township, the Kuchemana Burial Society, founded by women in 2021, runs a bulk-grocery program, a savings club, and offers low-interest loans for health, education and small-business ventures, extending its funeral focus.
Historical Roots of Burial Societies
Burial societies in Zimbabwe began in the 20th-century colonial era when migrant workers formed groups to ensure dignified funerals far from home. The practice persisted as a community safety net amid scarce formal funeral insurance.
Key Actors
Kuchemana is led by society secretary Nyadzisayi Mirisawu. Member Melisa Kasu joined in 2023 after her mother’s death. Lecturer Sharon Chilunjika of Midlands State University analyses the trend.
Membership and Financial Structure
Kuchemana has 40 members aged 23-72. Fees are $3 for funeral contributions and $10 for a savings club, which provides a $150 death benefit, 20% loans, and a $100 saving and $30 loan for Kasu in December.
Socioeconomic Impact
Grocery, loan and capital services help members avoid loan sharks and asset sales, tackling a key driver of household poverty. The model also supports informal workers, who make up over two-thirds of Zimbabwe’s labor force.
Official Statements & Responses
Kuchemana’s leadership says members receive groceries, help and a $150 death benefit, while the $10 savings club funds loans and profit-sharing. Researchers note the scheme fills a gap left by banks that rarely lend to the poor and government support.
Criticism & Opposition
Scholars argue funeral expectations drive poverty, pushing families to loan sharks or asset sales. Burial societies ease some pressure but do not replace formal insurance, and official data on their coverage and finances remain limited.
On-the-Ground Experiences
Members met under an avocado tree, paid subscriptions in T-shirts, sang and discussed business ideas. Kasu, laid off in 2022, used a $100 saving and $30 loan to buy gas tanks and a scale, now selling cooking gas to neighbors.
Verbatim Quotes
“We wanted dignity in death. Now we are striving for it in life,” society secretary Nyadzisayi Mirisawu said. “We don’t want members suffering while alive.” — Nyadzisayi Mirisawu, Society Secretary, Kuchemana Burial Society
“I bought gas tanks and a scale. Now I sell cooking gas to neighbors,” — Melisa Kasu, Member, Kuchemana Burial Society
“Banks normally do not lend to the poor or the unemployed, and governments are not providing enough support,” — Sharon Chilunjika, Lecturer in Social Sciences, Midlands State University
“The way you bury your loved one says a lot about who you are as a family. A cheap coffin or scant food invites judgment. The society will talk,” — Sharon Chilunjika, Lecturer in Social Sciences, Midlands State University
