By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
A growing crisis is unfolding as grieving families in Zimbabwe face extortionate financial demands from in-laws before they are allowed to bury their deceased loved ones.
The Law Development Commission (LDC) has strongly condemned this practice, calling it illegal and deeply harmful to mourning families.
Speaking during a public legal awareness campaign in Kariba on the Marriages Act [Chapter 5:17], LDC Deputy Chairperson Rex Shana made it clear that no family should be forced to pay for the right to bury their daughter.
“The law is clear,” Shana stated. “Relatives cannot demand money, property, or valuables from a son-in-law in exchange for burying their daughter.”
Families Held Hostage by Tradition
For many families, however, the reality is starkly different.
One Kariba family was given a painful ultimatum—sell their house and share the proceeds before being allowed to bury their daughter.
“It felt like we were being asked to trade our grief for money,” a family member shared, tears in their eyes. “We just wanted to lay her to rest with dignity, not in debt.”
In another case, a son-in-law was ordered to pay US$10,000 before the burial could proceed.
“This is not just about money,” he lamented. “It’s about respect and honoring our loved one’s memory. But we’re caught in a web of expectations that no one prepared us for.”
Cultural vs. Legal Rights
The issue has sparked a debate between traditional customs and legal protections.
Chief Chundu Abel Mbasera acknowledged the cultural significance of marriage and burial rites but warned against the growing exploitation.
“While we must respect our traditions, we cannot allow them to become a source of pain and conflict,” he said. “Demanding payments for burials undermines the very essence of our customs, which should be about love, respect, and remembrance.”
He urged communities to find a balance between heritage and legal rights, ensuring that mourning families are not burdened with unjust financial expectations.
A Call for Change
The LDC continues to educate the public on their rights under the Marriages Act, the Deceased Persons Family Maintenance Act, and the Estate Duty Act—none of which support financial demands for burial rights.
“Families must know their legal protections,” Shana emphasized.
As the battle between tradition and law intensifies, one thing remains clear: grieving families deserve compassion, not financial exploitation.
The hope is that through legal awareness and cultural dialogue, Zimbabwe can move towards a future where grief is met with empathy, not extortion.
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