Irony of huge funeral rituals

[BAK]

Irony of huge funeral rituals

2009-03-08 11:21:26
By Staff Writer​

When James Apiyo (not his real name) was admitted to Sekou Toure Hospital in Mwanza city last year, his family and relatives said they could not raise $30 needed to pay for his medical bill. And unfortunately he died six months later, at the age of 65 years.

Ironically preparations for a showoff funeral started as soon as news of the death reached his family.

Within 24 hours, a total of 2.5m/- had been raised, 10 per cent of which was set aside for a modest coffin; the rest was spent on special uniforms for the burial ceremony.

At least a thousand people attended the funeral marked by much singing and dancing. ``One day the family is unable to raise 30,000/- to treat my father, and next day they can get millions for the burial ceremony…this is not fair,`` complained Miriam Achieng,` the second born in the family of the late Apiyo, who lived at Kitangiri in Mwanza.

She was tormented by the fact there was little effort to save her father. ``How I wish my father was here to listen to our sentiments…this tradition has to change,`` said Achieng.

Michael Masese is feeling a similar agony as he stands close to his late father`s grave at Shirati in Mara Region, as tears rolled down his lean cheeks.

Masese had just been laid to rest and the ministers who officiated at the burial were leaving.

His mother, Teresa Masese, and two younger sisters of his also stood there on that bright day under scorching sun. Three bricklayers were busy erecting a concrete slab on the grave.

Michael was agonised by the fact that few people visited his father when he was sick in the hospital; even more so as he learnt that arrangements were under way for a glorious funeral ceremony.

Within a period of two weeks, friends and relatives from different parts of the country assisted to raise 8,000,000/- for the occasion - to be spent on reception, food and beverages, decorations, transport and so on.

However, there are people justifying that kind of expenditure. Lanya Nundu (55), a resident of Mbagala Kiburugwa in Dar es Salaam, says it is the only way through which his family could prove their love to their late mother. According to some tribes in Tanzania, funerals are attractive festivities.

Campaigns to raise funds to the body of Nundu’s mother from Dar es Salaam to Tarime for example cost between 2m/- and 2.5m/-.

The family had to make arrangements with mortuary attendants to preserve their mother`s body for about two weeks before it was transported to the village.

In the end , a group of people and the master of ceremonies - hired from Dar es Salaam -wore uniforms labeled with his mother`s name to colour the convoy on its way to Tarime accompanying his mother`s body.

A chain of vehicles of different types with headlights on was part of the entourage that sung gospel songs along the way.

When they reached the village, Nundu said: ``Though we spent about 8m/- to organise the ceremony, every member of our extended family was finally happy.

We had to organise for a burial ceremony that could show the kind of care and love we had for our mother.``

Neema Mathius, a resident of Kimara in Dar es Salaam, recalls a similar experience about a neighbouring family.
For three years they spent 3m/- to treat a diabetic mother. But after her death, they hosted a grand memorial gathering that cost more than 18m/-.

``It`s ridiculous to spend that much money on burial and funeral arrangement,`` commented Neema.

Of late funeral service companies have emerged in the country, like Corona Funeral and Funeral Parlour in Dar es Salaam, that are involved in the business of burials and funerals, charging various amounts of money for the service.

A coffin dealer who operates in the premises of the Muhimbili National Hospital Juma Kimbunga said coffins may cost from 120,000/- and 800,000/-, depending on the quality, value of timber used, the size of the coffin and the detail of decoration and the demand of the customer. Some are said to have been sold for to 900,000/-.

SOURCE: Sunday Observer

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Kuzaliwa, ndoa, kufa na kuzikwa zote ni sherehe!

Wapi ulisikia mtu akiugua ni sherehe?

Ni hadi mazishi!

 

[Yona F. Maro]

Kuna rafiki yangu mmoja ameniomba nimchangie harusi yake nikamwambia siwezi kukuchangia harusi kwa sasa kwanini hiyo michango ya harusi usiitumie kwend akujiendeleeza katika taaluma yako ije kuwa faida kwako ?? Na kweli sijatoa mchango lazima watu tuwe na misimamo kama hii tuchangie watu katika mambo muhimu ambayo yanaweza kusave maisha na kutuletea tija hapo mbeleni

hata hao wagonjwa kama wangechangiwa wangepona unafikiri wangezalisha mali kiasi gani ?

 

[Tiba]

Wana JF,

Nimeguswa sana na hii mada na ninafikiri imeletwa kwa wakati muafaka. Hakuna ubishi kwamba kila mtu atakufa. Lakini mtu hapashwi kufa eti kwa sababu amekosa pesa ya matibabu. Kuna wengi wanakufa kwa kukosa pesa ya matibabu. Watanzania tumekuwa mbele sana kuchangia mambo ambayo at the end of the day tunapata direct returns kama harusi, kipaimara, graduation na vitu kama hivyo. Tunachangia kwa matarajio ya kualikwa halafu tunakwenda kula hizo pesa tulizochangia.

Kwa mawazo yangu mepesi, tunapashwa kubadili muelekeo wa michango. Badala ya kuchangia harusi, kipa imara, communio na gradution kwa nini tusichangie yafuatayo;

1. Matibabu kwa mtu anayehitaji msaada huo
2. Elimu kwa watoto ambao wamefanya vizuri lakini wazazi hawana uwezo wa kuwasomesha.

Majirani zetu wa Kenya wametuzidi sana kwa haya mambo mawili na hasa suala la kuchangia elimu. Kuna faida gani kuchanga millioni 15 kwa ajili ya harusi and in hours hiyo pesa imetumika na kusahaulika. Pengine wanandoa hawatamaliza hata miezi sita kabla ya kuachana.

Najua ni kazi ngumu kuwabadilisha watanzania walio wengi kwa sasa juu ya hili lakini hatujachelewa hata kidogo. Tuanze kampeni ya makusudi ya ku-discourage michango isiyokuwa na maana kama kipa imara, ubatizo and the like. Nchi za wenzetu wa magharibi harusi unaandaa mwenyewe kwa pesa zako ila ukimuarika mtu anakuletea zawadi lakini sio mchango wa kuandaa sherehe.

We need to change our habit towards this!!!!

Tiba

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Tiba,

Unayoongelea ni sahihi ila ni hoja tofauti haswa ya elimu!

Kwa hiyo basi Watz wawachangie wagonjwa wote waliopo mahospitalini na majumbani?

Je mtu akifariki asifanyiwe sherehe?

 

[Lunanilo]

Tiba,

Unayoongelea ni sahihi ila ni hoja tofauti haswa ya elimu!

Kwa hiyo basi Watz wawachangie wagonjwa wote waliopo mahospitalini na majumbani?

Je mtu akifariki asifanyiwe sherehe?

Hapana siyo hivyo. Nilivyoelewa mimi ni kuwa kuliko kutoa mchango mkubwa katika mazishi ya mtu, ni vizuri kuchangia kuuguza ili apate ahueni aendelee kuilea familia yake kama ni mtu mwenye familia au aendelee kuishi maisha bora kama yu peke yake. Pili kama ametutoka basi tusitumie pesa nyingi kununua majeneza ya fahari na mambo mengine yanayoendelea na msiba, tufanye tu vitu vya wastani vinavyoendeana na hali halisi ya kiuchumi ya familia ya mfiwa, kama kuna michango ya ziada basi isaidie elimu na vitu vingine vya watoto wa marehemu au wanaomtegemea marehemu. Na sio watanzania wote wamchangie kila mgonjwa; ninavyoelewa mimi ni kuwa huwa tunawachangia watu tunaowafahamu au wafanya kazi wenzetu. Ingawaje nimekuelewa kuwa unataka kusema kuwa, labda badala ya hii michango tuanze kuwa na sera maalumu za kuhimiza watu wawe na bima za maisha ili tusiwe na mzigo mkubwa maisha yanapofikia hatima.

 

[Ogah]

Kwa kweli hili suala limenigusa sana.......nimekuwa nikijiuliza kwa kipindi kirefu....nafikir ni wakati muafaka kuhamasishana na kusaidiana pindi inapotokea rafiki/ndugu wanapo-kumbwa na shida.......the central point ya kutoa msaada can be Max (The JF Founder and his crew)

 

[Visenti]

Inasikitisha sana, nimeshuhudia shughuli za mazishi zinazogharimu mamilioni na mbwembwe nyingi, halafu baada ya mwaka watoto wa marehemu wanakwama school fees!,

 

[Tusker Bariiiidi]

SHEREHE NI MUHIMU!!! Kwa mila zetu... haswa sisi tunaotokea nyanda za juu kaskazini... ... japo pia katika ku-raise fund katika ugonjwa tume-advance sana kwani kama tutaona kuna uhitaji wa kumpeleka nje ya nchi tutafanya hivyo...

Nadhani cha kukumbushana hapa ni... kupima afya zetu mara kwa mara ili tusishindwe kutibu wagonjwa wanapohitaji matibabu... NAWASILISHA.