Burial societies in Zimbabwe, traditionally established to help families manage the financial and social demands of funerals, are increasingly transforming into community-based support networks that provide savings schemes, loans and small business opportunities for members facing economic hardship.
Funerals in Zimbabwe often require significant spending on food, music and large gatherings, placing heavy financial pressure on grieving families. Many people go into debt to ensure their loved ones receive what is considered a dignified send-off and to avoid public embarrassment. According to Dr Jacob Mokhutso, a senior lecturer of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria, funerals carry deep emotional and cultural significance, prompting families to spare no expense in honouring relatives who played important roles in their lives.
For 29-year-old Melisa Kasu, the value of burial societies became clear after the death of her mother in 2023. Her mother had been a member of a local burial society, which stepped in immediately after her passing by providing food supplies, cooking equipment and practical assistance during the funeral. Following the experience, Kasu took over her mother’s membership and discovered that the organisation offered far more than funeral support.
One example is the Kuchemana Burial Society, founded in 2021 in Kuwadzana, a township in Harare. Originally created by a group of women seeking to ensure dignified funerals for families from modest backgrounds, the society has expanded its mission to include savings initiatives and grocery contribution programmes. The name “Kuchemana,” which means “mourning one another” in the Shona language, reflects its roots in mutual support during times of loss.
Today, the organisation has around 40 members ranging in age from 23 to 72. Members contribute $3 each month and receive assistance such as groceries, cooking support and a $150 cash payment when a family member dies. In addition, they contribute $10 monthly to a collective savings fund that allows members and trusted community residents to borrow money at interest rates that generate profits shared among participants annually.
At society meetings, discussions increasingly focus on financial empowerment rather than funerals. Members exchange ideas on business ventures including poultry farming, detergent production and other income-generating projects. Society secretary Nyadzisayi Mirisawu explained that while the organisation was initially focused on helping families organise respectable funerals, it has since broadened its role to address wider economic challenges facing members.
For Kasu, who lost her job at a hardware store in 2022, the financial services offered by the society proved life-changing. After receiving funds from the group’s savings programme and securing a small loan, she purchased gas storage tanks and a weighing scale, enabling her to launch a gas retail business in her neighbourhood. The venture has since grown, allowing her to cover household expenses and maintain financial independence.
Burial societies have a long history in Zimbabwe, dating back to the early 20th century when migrant workers created mutual aid groups to guarantee proper burials for colleagues who died far from home. The tradition has survived for generations, particularly in a country where funeral insurance is far more common than health insurance and where many citizens work in the informal economy.
While insurance companies and mobile service providers continue to market affordable funeral policies, members say burial societies remain popular because they offer something beyond financial assistance. The sense of community, shared responsibility and personal support provided by fellow members continues to make these organisations an important social and economic lifeline for many Zimbabwean families.
