Peter Chawapiwa
GUTU – Chiefs from all over the country have been urged to take the conservation of natural resources seriously while at the same time they uphold traditional norms and values in their communities.
The call was made by a spirit medium, Sekuru Jiri who comes from the Chivhu area and officiated at a traditional ceremony which was organised by incumbent Chief Gutu, Amon Edmond Masanganise at Jirimhanda in the Nyazvidzi farming area of Gutu District. The ceremony was organised after a rockfall in the area was stopped by tree trunks from crushing villagers homes into oblivion.
“We must conserve our natural resources and keep our traditions alive. These play an active role in our daily lives. Nobody knows the reasons behind the misadventure of these balancing rocks which fell suddenly when they had been there since time immemorial.
“There is no doubt that our natural resources played a very important part from stopping these rocks from negatively affecting the people.
“Similar incidents have been witnessed in the past but only Chief Gutu has taken the responsibility of holding a traditional ceremony to thank our ancestors.
“It is the responsibility of all our traditional leaders in the country to ensure the conservation of natural resources and the maintenance of our rich tradition,” Sekuru Jiri said.
Sekuru Jiri, who said he had taken part in traditional ceremonies all over Zimbabwe said similar ceremonies must take place in other areas in Zimbabwe where a similar phenomenon had been witnessed.
A few years ago a balancing rock split in half in the Mapaike area of Chivi District narrowly missing a homestead which was built at the bottom of the mountain. Sekuru Jiri said such occurences were not limited to Masvingo Province but had been witnessed in other parts of the country.
Chief Gutu, who was assisted by other chiefs and headmen to plan for the ceremony urged traditional leaders to study the traditional background of the areas under their jurisdiction.news
