The Sunday Mail
Desire Ncube
The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association says they will soon re-open their medical school in Harare.
The Zimbabwe School of African Traditional Medicine was founded in 1998 by Professor Gordon Chavhunduka and is registered by the Higher and Tertiary Education Ministry.
Zinatha national education secretary Mr Prince Mutandi Sibanda said medicine was the science and art of healing, and their school wsought to provide answers to misunderstood concepts of African traditional medicine and healing.
He said medicine encompasses a variety of healthcare practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.
“All human societies have medical beliefs that provide explanations for birth, death, and disease. Throughout history, illness has been attributed to witchcraft, demons, adverse astral influence, or the will of the gods. The school will be dealing with those issues at length,” said Mr Sibanda. He said the Zimbabwe School of African Traditional Medicine was hit by serious financial challenges during the hyper-inflation period, forcing Zinatha to temporarily close it. Mr Sibanda, who holds a Diploma in Herbal Medicine from the University of Botswana, said admission to the school would be based on academic merit and other factors like relevant work experience and character assessment.
He said anyone keen to understand African traditional medicine and healing could apply.
“There are no restrictions on admitting students at the school. This is adult open learning but we will consider maturity as well as some academic qualifications if necessary,” he clarified.
Mr Sibanda said their one-year course would be divided in four parts: African Culture and Health, African Religion and Health, Medicine and Medical Practice.
He said all courses were compulsory.
“In part one student will study Culture, this will include Kinship and Descent, Village Organisation, Sex, Marriage, Family, Custom, Land, how Chiefs and Headmen operate, African Law, African Courts, Witchcraft, and Witchcraft Laws.
“Part two will focus on religion issues like Death, Spirit Possession, Ritual Ceremonies, Religion in the Family, Religion in Society, God in African Religion, Drought and Famine.”
Mr Sibanda said part three would cover Plants, Animals, Birds, Snakes, Insects and Fish as Medicine. This part would also tackle Preventive Medicine, Social Medicine and Curative Medicine.
“The final part will deal with the practice. This is one of the most important parts where students will focus on Consultation, Diagnosis, Divination, Medical Equipment, Faith Healing, Magical Healing and Midwifery.
“This is where students learn about health acts and the Traditional Medical Practitioners Act,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said graduands would get certificates allowing them to either practice traditional medicine or further studies in related fields. The Zinatha national educational secretary highlighted other plans lined up for the year.
“We are planning to build our traditional village in Mukuvisi Woodlands. The Harare City Council gave us land there in 2003 but it has been idle due to lack of funds, but the association is busy mobilising funds to start construction. All things being equal we are hoping to build our school there as well,” he added.
Zinatha gets most of its funding from members through monthly subscriptions, as well as from well-wishers and donors.
It has an estimated membership of more than 45 000 people.
