Chief decrees rainmaking ritual
By Nkosana Sikhosana
The decision by Chief Mathupula to revisit traditional ways of seeking good rains has received mixed reactions from community members in Tsholotsho.
In Chief Mathupula’s area headmen has been instructed to advise community members from Ward 5 and 6 that on the 1st of October 2020 they should not engage in any work of any kind.
Chief Mathupula made a command to the effect that the community should spend the day picking up bones of cattle and donkeys that died last year as a result of the drought as a ritual to seek good rains from the ancestors.
Mr Bernard Ngwenya from Mthethwa Line welcomed the directive from the leadership saying that is how things have always been done since time immemorial and that there is need to uphold the norms of the society.
“This is a good initiative which is being spearheaded by the Chief. This was the case even back then, and it was done so that there would be plenty of rain to reduce the effects of the drought. We really needed this in our area because the effects of the drought have been very severe since 2015 there has been little to no rainfall and we have not harvested anything meaningful. The last time we had rains they were so violent and people from Mahlaba lost their property. That is why I think the initiative to embrace and re-adopt practices of our forefathers is a very good idea”, said Ngwenya.
However those from a Christian background had different opinions over the issue. A community member from a Johanne Masowe Sect, Matema.
“As Christians, our religion does not allow us to practice or to be involved in such rain making initiatives so I think I wont be a part of it. I also do not think it is a crime for me to decide what I want to do and what I do not want to do because the constitution states that people are free to follow any religious beliefs of their choosing and their choices should be respected as such,” contended Nkomo.
