The controversial Mbuya Nehanda statue

Dr Takavafira Zhou

This
epistle must be understood as an accurate historical narrative, and nothing
more. The truth is that Nehanda was not a national figure but local figure as a
spirit medium whose influence was restricted to Mazoe area. Her advantage was
nearness to the locus of power and white misconception of 1896-97 risings. She
has been wrongly elevated to national status because of a totalising Zezuru
hegemonic power. To assume only Zezuru had National spirit mediums like
Nehanda, Kaguvi and Chaminuka is a dangerous historical misnomer.

Pre-colonial
Zimbabwe was more organised along clans with all clans having their own spirit
mediums. Many areas had their own spirit mediums with Mazarire spirit medium in
Masvingo, Muendamberi spirit medium in Chegutu, VaChipfedza spirit medium in
Chivi and Mazvihwa, with the Lemba resorting to Ngoma Lungundu and Gona
Magumbate that also had spirit mediums or special handlers. Various other areas
had their own spirit mediums and never knew of a Nehanda and Kaguvi.

Historians
(Prof Ranger, Prof Sabelo Gathseni, Prof Beach, Prof Cobbing, Dr Zhou etc) are
agreed of the absence of priesthood in the First Chimurenga. If Nehanda is to
be awarded heroine status it must never be for the First Chimurenga but her
mythical influence in the Second Chimurenga. Nehanda even denied to have had
sent people who killed a Native Commissioner, Pollard. She was merely an
innocent woman wrongly killed on false assumption that religious leaders were
crucial in 1896-97 Risings.

In fact
there was no Chimurenga in 1896-97 but Zvimurenga with individual chiefs
entering the war alone, fighting alone and being defeated alone. Local politics
was more important than feelings of nationality, with many local chiefs joining
the war against fellow African chiefs. The concept of a sudden and simultaneous
rising by Africans against whites instigated by spirit mediums in a manner reminiscent
of the night of long knives in Germany, did not exist. There was no extra
territorial planning but localised and parochial planning.

Nehanda
was not known beyond Mazoe. Kaguvi had hunting medicine and when people flocked
to him to get the medicine and anti-locust pesticide he was erroneously
considered as a centre of planning the rising. He was also a fugitive
womaniser, running away from men whose wives he had abused.

It is
surprising how our politics has continued to be divorced from academic reality
for political expediency. It is also interesting to note how Mugabeism has
continued beyond Mugabe’s reign. The Second Republic that initially adopted a
Zimbabwe is open for business mantra had by 2020 failed to make this a reality.
Worse still its attempt of an overdosage Karangification of Zimbabwe to dilute
Mugabe’s 37 years of zezurufication of Zimbabwe reached a brick wall. Deflated
by failure to turn around the economy of Zimbabwe, the so called new
dispensation turned 360 degrees to Mugabeism and liberation struggle rhetoric
with the current pre-occupation with Nehanda statue.

If we
need the real heroes of the First Chimurenga one wonders why we are silent of
Chief Makoni Chingaira who was the first victim of the First Chimurenga,
executed by a firing squad. It is undisputable that his head is in United
States, and not that of Nehanda as erroneous claimed by some people. R.G.
Mugabe would not have claimed the bottom of Great Zimbabwe birds and left the
heads of his Zezuru kith and kins in UK. Another great fighter was Mashayamombe
and his Gwindingwi that became the centre of the rising in Chegutu. Equally
important is Nyamanda among the Ndebele who continued the war for some time in
the Matopos area when others sued for peace.

Even
Lobengula qualifies for hero status given his resolve not to surrender in the
1893-94 war of dispossession. The greatest guerrilla fighter of the initial
primary resistance was Mapondera who fought until 1902 using elusive and
evasive guerrilla warfare and retreating into Mozambique. Put simply, Zimbabwe
need to move from political rhetoric by leaving a legacy of accurate history
for future generations. We must celebrate our unity in diversity and desist
from imposing a diet of historical falsehoods for political expediency.

University
knowledge must be manufactured and processed and guide leaders against the
trenches of folly. We can’t celebrate the centrality of priesthood in 1896-97
when it had very minimal influence. It is also dangerous to elevate ethnic
spirit mediums to National status when history is pregnant with facts of their
local status. As much as it is important to remember the dead, Zimbabwe would
do better if leaders are pre-occupied with improvement of the livelihoods of
the generality of Zimbabwean people.

Progress
Chaya

Save the Children organisation has
embarked on an infrastructure rehabilitation project that will help rebuild 141
schools from Masvingo and Manicaland provinces which were affected by Cyclone
Idai.

The project is being funded by the
Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to the tune of US$2 340 000 and
approximately 56 400 pupils are set to benefit.

Save the Children advocacy and communications
advisor Sophie Hamandishe said the project focuses mainly on rehabilitating
infrastructure destroyed by Cyclone Idai in March last year.

“The project’s primary focus is on rehabilitating
infrastructure of 141 schools from six districts that was destroyed by Cyclone
Idai that is 22 from Buhera, Mutare 31, Chipinge 31, Chimanimani 28, Bikita 25
and Zaka 19.

“The district schools inspectors will
select the schools based on their assessments of the damage caused by Cyclone
Idai.

“We found it prudent to once again play
our part in the rehabilitation of communities affected by the disaster,” said
Hamandishe.

Zaka District Schools Inspector (DSI) Samson
Chidzurira said they selected St Joseph Tongoona, Mutonhori and Mutsambwa high
schools to benefit from the project.

Chipfunde, Mujena, Mushungwa, Majuru,
Chinorumba, Chigwagwa, Mutimwi, Murerekwa, Chirara, Chipinda, Mutsambwa, Govo,
Nyakunhuwa, Musarava, Veza and Mutamba primary schools were also selected.

Buhera district Cyclone Idai focal person
Nelson Magwende said Muzirikazi, Gunde, Masocha secondary schools.

Devuli, Nechikova, Madzivire, Vhiriri,
Bangure, Matsakanure, Kandenga, Mupeza, Chirozva, Muzirikazi, Murove,
Manjokota, Barura, Zvomwoyo, Chiturike, Chirasauta, Bere, Munyarazi and Gunde
primary schools were also selected from Buhera.

Hamandise said they will not be giving
money to schools but would only buy construction material required as well as
furniture.

“We shall not give the money to schools
but we would request all the material needed to rehabilitate the destroyed
infrastructure and make payments,” said Hamandishe.

Bikita DSI James Mahofa did not
disclose the names of schools that will benefit in the project.

Chido Zikiti

Felix Matasva

MUTARE –
A 20-year-old Gender Based Violence (GBV) survivor who suffered a lot of abuse
from her brutal husband and mother-in-law has finally broken the silence by
reporting her case to Zimunya Police Station after being severely injured.

This
emerged at St Johns Anglican Cathedral on November 26 where Christian women
from districts of Manicaland province convened to commemorate 16 Days of
Activism Against Gender Based Violence.

The
commemoration was facilitated by Methodist Development and Relief Agency
(MeDRA) in partnership with Act Alliance Zimbabwe Forum and SIDE BY SIDE.

Chido
Zikiti (20) dropped out of school when she was in grade 7 at Chigodora Primary
School which is located less than 30 km from Mutare.

The
donor who was paying for her fees could no longer pay and this forced Chido out
of school at a very young age.

She
became an orphan at 12 years of age and started working as a maid since she had
no one to provide for her.

After
being impregnated at the age of 17 years, Chido was married off to an abusive man
with whom she led a miserable life.

“I
was in a terrible marriage which was so painful. I had no peace and harmony
since my husband and mother- in-law inflicted a lot of pain to me on a daily
basis.

“My
husband on several times brought his girlfriend into our bedroom and I was beaten
whenever I asked him about what was happening. My mother-in-law, my husband and
his aunties would always find fault with me.

“They
never minded that I was still nursing wounds I sustained as I delivered my baby
by Caesarean operation. I have never fully-recovered up to now because I still
feel the pain at the slightest change of weather,” said Chido.

She
said she finally made up her mind to quit after a violent domestic incident
which left her with internal injuries.

“Although
I was subjected to a lot of emotional and physical abuse, I remained docile
with the hope that the marriage will finally work out. Every day I nursed up my
husband’s brother who had a disability but they never appreciated it.

“I
decided to take a stand and speak out after my mother-in-law’s two sisters
kicked me all over the body. I was badly injured inside my body and I decide to
leave,” she said.

 Chido went to receive treatment while at own
parents’ home but she is now renting a room in Zimunya because her own brother
did not approve of her leaving her abusive husband.

She
makes some money by crushing huge rocks into quarry which she then sell to
people with building projects which are becoming fewer due to the rains.

“I
produce concrete worth US$30 on a monthly basis but it’s not enough since I
need to pay rent as well as buy food and child’s wear. I have to balance all my
expenses on that very small budget.

“My
aunt agreed to stay with the child to give me a chance to work but my former
husband does not provide anything,” she said.

Speaking
during the event, Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) Pastor Edson Mukaro said the church
had a responsibility to fight abuse, hold abusers accountable and help
survivors of GBV.

“It
is one of the critical roles the of church to hold perpetrators of violence
accountable for their actions. It is also our responsibility as followers of Christ
to help and support survivors of GBV rather than stigmatize them,” said
Mukaro.

MeDRA
official Mrs Chikara implored urged women to change cultural practices that
give rise to gender discrimination and GBV.

“We
must challenge cultural practices that discriminate people based on gender. Gender
roles change with time and as church women, we can bring that change for the
good of our society. We must not allow forced wife inheritance and sacrificing
the girl child to appease avenging spirits,” said Chikara.

The
16 Days of Activisim against Gender Based Violence are observed yearly from
November 25 to December 10 to help highlight that problem.

This
year, the campaign is running under the global theme dubbed Orange the World:
Fund, Respond, Collect and Prevent.

Felix
Matasva

MUTARE- The
city council has set April 2021 as a new deadline for commissioning the
much-awaited Christmas Pass-Dangamvura water pipeline project which, if
completed, will be a game changer in addressing rife water challenges in
Dangamvura high density suburb, Fern Valley and Industrial area.

Businesses located in the industrial area as well as residents
in Dangamvura and Fern Valley have been hard hit by constant water challenges
for almost 16 years.

Mostly residents in Dangamvura especially women were
frequently seen in many spots in the high density suburb doing laundry at
unprotected water sources.

So far the eastern border town’s local authority has laid up
new high pressure GRP pipes covering a distance of 1 152 metres out of a total
2 040 and a pipe bridge across Sakubva River is said to be 90 percent complete.

Mutare City Council public relations officer Spren Mutiwi
said that the local authority still needs to raise an additional USD$250 000 in
order to complete the Christmas Pass-Dangamvura reservoirs waterline project.

“We have planned to lay up all the GRP pipes by end of
December this year. We have used more than US$97 000 and we require about US$70
000 more, for additional scope of works on Asbestos Cement (AC) pipes.

“Provided we raise the required funds and also
anticipating some rain season-induced disturbances, the whole project should be
commissioned by April 2021. We are still upbeat that will be able to meet our
set time frame for this project,” said Mutiwi.

He added that the local authority is pleased by the progress
so far as it frog march towards retiring perennial water shortages in
Dangamvura and surrounding areas.

“The completion of this project will herald a new chapter
for Dangamvura, Fern Valley and Industrial business community. Our hands are on
the deck to complete the long standing issue which has been there for more than
15 years,” said Mutiwi.

Mutiwi once promised that Council will end perennial water
shortages in Dangamvura by end of 2020 whilst speaking to TellZim News in an
interview last year.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Manica Chamber
president Victoria Jakazi told TellZim News in a telephone interview that CZI
Manica Chamber is organising a meeting with City of Mutare to hear on its
progress towards retiring industrial area perennial water challenges.

“As industries we are in a process of convening a
meeting with council so we can get more details about how and when we will
benefit from Christmas Pass-Dangamvura waterline project. So I can only give a
comment about council’s pace in addressing water challenges after that
meeting,” said Jakazi.

United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT)
programmes coordinator Edson Dube said it will be a welcoming development for
residents if council meet their December target of ensuring constant water
supply in Dangamvura.

“New economic opportunities will be ushered to
residents who are incurring a lot of expenses in buying water due to rife shortages.
There will be convenience particularly for the girl child and women in
Dangamvura who often queue for longer periods in quest of the precious liquid.

“It’s disheartening that these challenges have been
faced for almost 20 years,” said Dube.

Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) official
David Mutambirwa said as residents they were unhappy about council’s tortoise
pace in executing the Christmas Pass-Dangamvura water pipeline project.

“They have failed dismally to meet all deadlines they
had set for completion of this long overdue project. Council must convene an
all stakeholders meeting so as to secure experts who can help to execute the
project.

“They must swallow their pride since they are failing
to timeously meet the set targets hence look out for retired and young
engineers who can offer a lot of expertise,” said Mutambirwa.