Lusaka City Council running short of burial sites, appeals to residents for land as 17,717 deaths reported in 2025

The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has appealed to residents with available land to partner with the Council in managing cemeteries or to sell the land, in a bid to address the city’s shortage of burial sites.

Lusaka reportedly recorded a total of 17,717 deaths from January to December 2025. In a statement issued on Monday, LCC Public Relations Manager Chola Mwamba said the initiative aims to increase burial site availability and ensure dignified and sanitary burials.

Out of the total deaths recorded, 3,498 bodies were buried in Council-owned cemeteries, while the remaining were interred in other cemeteries across the city.

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“By working together with residents and private cemetery operators, the Council can ensure the city’s burial needs are met sustainably,” Mwamba said.

She added that the Council’s efforts to regulate burial practices and expand burial sites are expected to positively impact public health and safety, easing pressure on existing cemeteries and allowing for dignified burials.

All burials were conducted in accordance with the law, specifically the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019 and the Public Health Act Cap 295, Mwamba noted.

The Council emphasized the importance of obtaining burial permits and using gazetted cemeteries to ensure proper handling and documentation of bodies.

“The Council urges residents to adhere to these regulations to avoid health risks associated with improper burial practices,” Mwamba said.

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