Mixed reaction on funeral homes

BY DEVOTA MWACHANG`A

23rd December 2013

Public opinion is sharply divided over the setting up of funeral homes, with some people saying the service has made handling such grave moments easierand others criticising them for high charges.

Some of the people interviewed by The Guardian said the service is unavoidable, especially in major urban centres.

Majuto Jumanne who has used the service, said it is good that there are firms that can do almost everything when hired.
As the pace of life gets briskier, more and more people are now hiring such firms to provide the coffin, car, and the cross with deceased names, funeral candles, mortal shroud, perfumes, plastic body bag, professional mourners, and actual burial and even catering services.

“Some of such firms do a great job but very few Tanzanians can afford hiring such services,” he said.

Kokushubila Binamungu said things have changed. The only responsibility for the family members who have lost their beloved ones is to welcome the mourning relatives and friends while leaving all other activities in the hands of funeral service providers.

She however pointed to exorbitant costs keeping the service out of reach for the majority of Tanzanians.

“We are in another age now, but I was shocked when I went to hire a firm to offer the services. I expected just few things but the provider told me they provide all the services including washing the body. However, their charges are beyond the reach of many,” said Binamungu Contacted for comments of the charges, Corona funeral services defended them as affordable.

“These charges are the best we can offer so far. We make some ourselves, but most are imported,” said the manager for Corona Funeral Services, Norah Christopher.

“Our charges are just normal madam, if you come to our offices my boys will explain the charges to you,” said a representative from Tumaini Funeral Services on phone.

Managing Director for Nuru Funeral Services, Innocent Lyimo, told this reporter on phone that the charges are affordable to all.

“Most of our products are imported ones but the prices and charges are affordable to all groups. In fact, we are more of service providers than business,” Lyimo said.
A coffin-maker at Manzese in Dar es Salaam, Shaaban Orufu said the funeral homes buy the coffins from the makers and re-sell them to their clients.

“If a person comes straight to us the price will be at least affordable since the potential clients can bargain, since we know that financial abilities of people vary. But for the funeral service firms there is no time for bargaining because their prices are fixed,” Orufu said.

Health and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Dr Seif Rashid commended the business saying funeral homes are business like any other businesses.

“The ministry has nothing to do with funeral service firms. Our responsibility is only issuing death certificates and protecting a dead body from infecting the remaining family members especially if the cause of his death was communicable diseases, such as Cholera,” said Rashid.

A sample of the charges by some of the firms range between 300,000/- and 900,000/- for a coffin, 300,000/- for a group of mourners per day, 200,000/- for a minibus to carry the coffin and other people within Dar es Salaam.

Our survey established that funeral candles cost 25,000/-, while a plastic body bag is at 15,000/- and a mortal shroud 25,000/-. Perfume costs between 15,000/- and 20,000/-.  

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN