**Vandalism Plagues Morogoro Cemetery Amidst Growing Scrap Metal Demand**

In a disturbing trend, over 250 graves have been vandalized, leaving families devastated and communities outraged.

Graveyard disturbances have become alarmingly common in Morogoro, Tanzania, as thieves target metal crosses and markers for scrap. Pudensiana Chumbi recounts her pain as both her mother’s and daughter’s graves have fallen victim to this trend, which she attributes to an increase in the value of scrap metal. Over the past few years, as many as 250 graves in a single section of Kola Municipal Cemetery have been desecrated, which comes as a deep shock to families who consider these sites sacred.

The ongoing thefts typically occur at night when the cemetery is unsupervised, resulting in families experiencing repeated grief. Chumbi, who lost her daughter in 1997 and her mother in 2000, describes her struggle with replacing stolen crosses, emphasizing that metal replacements feel inappropriate in the context of their sacredness.

Reports indicate that thieves realize between 700 and 870 Tanzanian shillings (approximately $0.27-$0.34) per kilogram of scrap metal, a modest sum yet often sufficient for a meal. Due to rising demands, thieves have begun to expand their targets, including other grave markers like tiles that can also be resold. Some local youth even offer protective services for graves, showing the desperate circumstances within the community.

Community members and local officials have noted the broader implications of these thefts. Augustine Remmy, Chumbi's brother, voiced the communal pain following such acts against sacred spaces. Local authorities have announced plans for enhanced security in the cemetery, including potential fencing and guard installation, but acknowledge that financial resources will delay implementation.

Simultaneously, efforts are underway to educate scrap metal merchants about recognizing stolen goods. Some dealers have even begun cooperating with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activities, but success varies. Deputy Prime Minister Dotto Biteko has promised to regulate the industry, stressing the need for compliance among scrap businesses.

As the Morogoro community grapples with this issue, religious leaders like Pastor Steven Msigara are urging collective action to educate the youth and prevent such wrongful acts, as the desecration of graves continues to weigh heavily on families left to manage the anguish of lost loved ones and neglected resting places.