Roles of Religious Practitioners in IR

By Brian Maregedze

For feedback email; bmaregedze@gmail.com

Indigenous Medical Practitioners

Indigenous Medical Practitioners (IMPs) are also called African Traditional Medical Practitioners (AMPS). There are different types of ATMPs in Zimbabwe that primarily include: herbalists (magodobori), diviners (varovi vehakata/vashoperi), spirit mediums (masvikiro), traditional birth attendants/midwife (nyamukuta) and faith healers (FHs) (maporofita). Some indigenous medical practitioners are specialists on issues related to post-humous enquiries: gata. They interpret causes of the death of the deceased. During their prognostics they become incarnates of the dead and his/her intercessors. They provide information on how the deceased wants the estate distributed and how related rituals must be enacted. Instructions about doro rehonye and kurova guva rituals come from this specialist. The specialist has the power to invite: kuhaka the spirit of the deceased to dialogue with the living using lots: hakata. The Shona people honorify this specialist as muvuki/mashopeshope

Sekuru Mhere explained, ‘Indigenous sacred practitioners are specialists in socio-medical and socio-political issues’ [Interviewed in Gutu on 23/04/1990] as cited in Monyanganise et.al. They preside over chieftainship and governance issues. They are political advisors. The chiefs, village heads and indigenous medical practitioners respect them. They are sacramentals of the guardians of African geo-politics.

Chiefs

Chiefs are custodians of the societal norms and values of a people. They fall under the Ministry of Local Governance in independent Zimbabwe. Chiefs are also apolitical in their everyday operations/activities. They are also involved in settling disputes in their areas, for instance sanctioning those who do not abide by sacred days, regulating sacred forests, animals, and trees among other roles.

Spirit Mediums

Traditionally known for their role in offering the ideological grounding/inspiration whenever confronted with external influences. In times of warfare, Spirit Mediums are popularly known for defending their people and their land. Spirit mediums are also territorial guardians of the land. Above all, mediums also provided the moral campus in the face of crisis. Some of the spirit mediums known in Zimbabwe narratives include, Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi, Mbuya Tangwena, Sekuru Gumboreshumba, Chaminuka among others.

Midwife

Traditional midwives sometimes called Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), are primary pregnancy and childbirth providers who usually learn their trade through apprenticeship, although some might be self-taught.  Truter (2007:58) and Saravanan et al (2010:95) concur that TBAs (isiNdebele: ababelethisi) are generally older illiterate woman who might be “community TBAs” or “family TBAs” who have learnt their midwifery skills through apprenticeship and have been midwives for many years and are highly respected for their midwifery and ritual expertise. A typical example of a midwife who made media headlines in Zimbabwe is Mbuya Ngwena.

Pic: Mbuya Ngwena based in Mbare-Harare

Rain Messenger

Depending on area of specialty, some are consulted on weather and climatic predictions and changes biannually. They preside over mikwerera/mitoro: rain-inducing (not rain making) ceremonies. Those practicing this calling did not stay in the village. Some are also celibates who are committed to a single life. In terms of diet some feed/fed on sadza rerukweza: rapoko sadza and mutton only.

The elderly

These are vital in passing on the memory of a people from one generation to the other. They are in fact living archives useful in the existence and continuation of the memory of a people. Socialisation of the young to responsible adults is only possible due the existence of the elderly. The transmission of societal norms and values takes place with the elderly safeguarding everything. The yardstick for future generations is planted into the young ones by the elderly.

Revision Questions

1.       Write any four roles of Sacred Practitioners in IR. (4)

2.       List at least three roles of Chiefs in Zimbabwe. (3)

3.       Outline the five types of ATMPs in Zimbabwe. (5)

4.       What is the difference between myths and rituals? (2)

5.       Name at least two female chiefs you know in Zimbabwe. (2)

6.       What does ZINATHA stand for?

7.      Write a brief biography of the late Gordon Chavhunduka and Dr Ushewokunze explaining their central role in the establishment of ZINATHA. (12)

8.       In which year was ZINATHA formed?

9.       What is the other name for midwife?

10 Name three spirit mediums per each phase in the history of Zimbabwe;

a.       1896 Uprisings

b.      Second Chimurenga

c.       Third Chimurenga