New cremator to be installed

THE City of Windhoek yesterday said plans to instal a new cremator to replace the 40-year-old facility, which was not working for the past two months, are at an advanced stage.

Municipal spokesperson Joshua Amukugo revealed the plans at a press briefing, when he announced that the old crematorium was operational again after repairs were successfully carried out.

Amukugo said cremations commenced on Monday.

The only crematorium facility in the country cremates at least seven bodies per day. However, because of the two-month breakdown, 12 bodies were cremated on Monday.

It was not clear how many bodies piled up during the two months when the crematorium was down because some bodies were being kept funeral palours.

“There has been a re-occurring major breakdown of the crematorium over the past few years, but the city is now in the process of installing a new cremator,” Amukugo said.

He also said the new equipment was procured last year from a supplier in Germany and is expected to arrive in the country in May this year. An extension of the new crematorium building is also currently under way.

“After the installation and commissioning of the new crematorium, service interruptions will become something of the past. The old facility will serve as a backup and could further help reduce cremation backlogs,” Amukugo said.

The city spokesperson said a number of families suffered as a result of this breakdown, “which has emotional sentiments to families who have lost their loved ones, and had to hold back the cremation process”.

Amukugo said the situation was worsened by a shortage of spare parts, which had to be ordered abroad because the facility is obsolete.

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