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Herald Reporter

MOONLIGHT Funeral Services and Apostolic churches have ventured into a business partnership leading to the creation of a special funeral policy that will see all parties to the agreement sharing profits over 10 years.

It is expected to contribute to employment creation as members from the churches will be supervisors and sales representatives for the scheme.

As part of the deal, bishops drawn from across the churches countrywide, including those under the ambit of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ), Vapostori for Economic Development (VED) and Zimbabwe Apostolic Bishops will benefit from vehicles to be provided by Moonlight in batches.

The special funeral policy covers the costs of church members being formally buried albeit according to their usual customs and traditions, including a church member driving the hearse.

Speaking during the deal signing ceremony in Harare yesterday, Apostolic Product Certification of Zimbabwe founder and chairman Bishop Obey Mapuranga said this was an economic emancipation drive.

“For a long time, our sect has been looked down upon, but has the biggest demography in the country. We have decided to enter into social business with Moonlight in which we will subscribe our members to them and get a return through profits.

“Under the deal, we will be getting a 10 percent share of profits but it will increase depending on the number of subscribers we manage to register. It is a 10-year deal,” he said.

Bishop Mapuranga said if they register 10 000 members and less, they get 10 percent share, but for 100 000 members and above, it is a 20 percent share.

“Moonlight has also given us a consolidation office. Our bishops that appended signatures will also benefit from vehicles to be distributed in batches.

“We will also form a relief aid to be used among the sect. All consultations were done with the relevant sectors. We look forward to more investments in future,” he said.

Moonlight Funeral Services chief executive officer Dr Chomi Makina described the deal as a symbiotic relationship.

“We are prepared to disburse the agreed commissions. We are indeed committed and since it is a new product, your advice will be greatly appreciated”.

Dr Makina said burying sect members according to their customs and traditions would be an easy task since they had dealt with special cases before, including burying Muslims.

“We want to respect your way of doing things. We will use a standard operating procedure. We will be training undertakers and drivers so that services are offered in the best possible way,” he said.

Moonlight offers a wide range of funeral services through its extensive network of over 40 branches dotted around Zimbabwe and the region.