Mupfure Mountain is host to a sacred shrine
Peter Chawapiwa
CHIVI – A local man was recently convicted by a traditional leader
on his own guilty plea and was fined a cow for desecrating a sacred
mountain.
on his own guilty plea and was fined a cow for desecrating a sacred
mountain.
Stephanos Mudyanembwa, of
Matsveru Village, entered the guilty plea when he appeared before Headman
Matsveru charged with desecrating a sacred shrine in the Mupfure Mountain.
Matsveru Village, entered the guilty plea when he appeared before Headman
Matsveru charged with desecrating a sacred shrine in the Mupfure Mountain.
The traditional leader’s court
heard that Mudyanembwa, in the company of his new wife, was spotted gathering
firewood at the sacred place, something that is strongly forbidden.
heard that Mudyanembwa, in the company of his new wife, was spotted gathering
firewood at the sacred place, something that is strongly forbidden.
Headman Matsveru ordered Mudyanembwa
to pay a beast but the accused pleaded with the court for leniency saying he had no
livestock.
to pay a beast but the accused pleaded with the court for leniency saying he had no
livestock.
The court then decided that he should pay four goats instead.
Local villagers, who declined to
be named for fear of victimisation, said until last year there was no shrine on
the mountain.
be named for fear of victimisation, said until last year there was no shrine on
the mountain.
“It was only after Nehoreka (a famous local spirit medium) held his ceremony at Headman Matsveru’s homestead that this sacred shrine was
created.
created.
“In fact, Nehoreka himself
held part of the ceremony on the mountain and declared part of it to be
sacred,” said one source.
held part of the ceremony on the mountain and declared part of it to be
sacred,” said one source.
The villagers said they used to
roam freely on the mountain and were finding it difficult to adjust to the new
order.
roam freely on the mountain and were finding it difficult to adjust to the new
order.
“Old habits die hard.
Perhaps with time, we will get used to the idea that there is a prohibited area
on the mountain,” said the villagers.
Perhaps with time, we will get used to the idea that there is a prohibited area
on the mountain,” said the villagers.
