The Sunday Mail
Desire Ncube —
TRADITIONAL chiefs around Zimbabwe are conducting rain-asking ceremonies (mukwerera/umtolo) ahead of the 2016/17 summer cropping season.
Chief Musarurwa, born Mr Enos Musarurwa, told The Sunday Mail Religion that the traditional ceremonies were already underway in many parts of the country.
“Rain is the centre of the agricultural cycle, and as you know that Zimbabwe is agro-based, rain-asking ceremonies are vital. The related rituals and myths are a key part of traditional African life. We are optimistic that the country will receive enough rainfall during the coming rain season as we have corrected a number of things that I cannot air on this platform.
“Last month we successfully conducted one such ceremony in Manhize in the Chikapakapa area of Chivhu. This is where it all started centuries ago where spirit mediums such as Murenga, Chaminuka, Nehanda, Musarurwa (Gwangwava Chirimudenga) and Kaguvi used to meet for such ceremonies,” he said.
Chief Musarurwa urged Zimbabweans not to wear red clothing between October and December as it would affect the ceremonies.
“People should desist from practicing all kinds of bad things like violence, and rape because it disconnects us from Mwari,” he added.
Nyandoro spirit medium spokesperson Mr Keifas Nyandoro said the rain-asking ceremonies were also to cleanse the land.
“It’s everyone’s responsibility in the community to uphold the laws of the land. The ceremony has to be done properly, with the chief and his subjects working together with the spirit mediums. The ceremony has to be done properly as it’s not only about bringing rain, but good harvests. The land should be cleansed of bad spirits of murder, and adultery,” he said.
Chief Mazvihwa’s aide Mr Tavengwa Jumo Chihoto said traditionalists should avoid short cuts when conducting traditional ceremonies. “There are laid down rules and regulations of who these activities are done people should stick to that in order to have results. The problem is that we have the younger generation distorting some of the rules and as a result the gods were angry,” he said.
Traditionalist and African tradition and culture researcher Mr Titus Muzungairi weighed in, “People should not denounce each other; an example is in the Bible the story of Jonah the captain ordered everyone to pray to his God. Our people should learn to accommodate each other especially on issues of religion in line with the Constitution.”
Mukwerera/umtolo is done before the start of every rain season and is normally led by elderly women who are responsible for brewing beer for the ritual. The women also work with young children who are not yet sexually active as they are considered clean.
Traditionalists say when properly done, rains will fall as the people dance or as they head home.
