The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
OUR recent story that highlighted the plight of Chimanimani residents still nursing emotional wounds close to five years after Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc in the area triggered positive reactions among many.
The Government has played a key role in rehabilitating damaged infrastructure that includes roads, power lines and housing for victims.
Counselling sessions are also being offered to survivors.
At the same time, music promoters, artistes and church and traditional leaders, among others, have stepped in to complement the Government’s efforts by offering physical and psychological support.
New school block at Ngangu Primary School
One of the initiatives is spearheaded by seasoned drummer and the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi’s manager, Sam Mataure.
The revered arts practitioner has organised “a healing conference”, which is scheduled to be held on May 11 in Chimanimani village.
The event is expected to bring together clerics from different denominations, as well as musicians, particularly gospel singers.
Among them will be Dorcas Moyo, Blessing Shumba, Joseph Maposa, Tsitsi Chimwero and Fort Machinda.
“Preparations are underway; some artistes have already confirmed participation and we are expecting to bring more on board. In due course, we will announce names of pastors who will be part of the conference,” revealed Mataure.
“We felt that, instead of hosting the usual Chimanimani Arts Festival, we should have a healing conference to assist people who are still psychologically or emotionally disturbed by the incident.”
Cyclone Idai ravaged parts of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi between March 14 and 15, 2019, killing hundreds of people and injuring many others.
More than 251 Chimanimani families were left homeless, but the Government swiftly moved in to relocate victims to the newly constructed Runyararo houses.
Reluctant
While some have already moved, others are reluctant due to deep-seated traditional beliefs.
“As you can see, I am old and cannot work anymore. Having to leave my home is giving me sleepless nights,” said Margret Chanayiwa.
“I am happy that they built new houses for us, but I buried my husband here, so it will be culturally wrong for me to abandon his grave.”
In Kopa, an elderly couple, Aegidius and Nyadzisai Mwaka, buried four of their 12 children in the family graveyard in their compound, where houses were destroyed. The couple do not want to move to the new home they were allocated in Rusununguko.
“We are worried and unsure of what will happen to the graves if we relocate; it feels like a taboo,” said Nyadzisai.
Related Stories:
There are many others in a similar predicament.
However, traditionalist Mbuya Calista Magorimbo argues that relocation is possible after prescribed rituals.
“Do not get me wrong, I am not saying it is possible to relocate and leave behind the family graveyard without attracting curses.
“It is a matter of conducting rituals to appease and alert ancestors that you have found a new home; this does not mean that you are abandoning them,” she said.
According to Mbuya Magorimbo, African traditional religion dictates that proper burial ceremonies or rituals be conducted for those whose bodies are yet to be discovered
after being washed away by the cyclone.
“Families need closure. Once the Government declares missing people dead, their relatives should conduct rituals for the deceased souls to finally rest in peace,” she advised.
Therapy
Psychologist Dr Nisbert Mangoro said while there may be no adverse cultural implications in the relocation of families in Chimanimani, some would, however, suffer culture shock.
This, he said, is associated with stress, anxiety, confusion and feelings of being lost or out of place.
Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to a new or an unfamiliar culture, way of life or set of attitudes.
“It happens in most spaces. For example, an employee relocating from one state or town to another may experience it, so culture shock is something we need to be aware of,” he said.
“There is need for psychological therapy before and just after relocating these people so that they understand the process and learn
where to draw the line between traditional beliefs and why they need to move.”
Chimanimani consultant engineer Claudius Ngara reckons the area is prone to tropical cyclones due to its geographical location, which is a path of cyclones from Mozambique and the Indian Ocean.
“Infrastructure development and other activities continue to expand on slopes highly prone to landslides, posing danger to the locals.
“The mountains have lost substantial tree cover due to illegal
settlers mushrooming wildly, and cutting and burning trees to prepare farmland. I feel we need to curtail that instantly.
“Traditional subtexts on relocation are an issue here. We need to avert future disasters and further loss of life by moving these people to safe areas,” said Ngara.
