Transportation

by Steven Jacobson, Takaliawa (Matebeleland South), Zimbabwe

In the United States, television, the Internet, and newspapers yield more information than most Americans need. In Takaliawa, we have none of these things that Americans take for granted. But, you might ask, how do Takaliawans get their information about life in the community? The answer: the borehole! At least once a day, someone in the family—usually a woman but sometimes a young boy—makes the one- to two-kilometer walk to the local water source. The borehole is where everyone finds out local gossip. "Did you hear about Nyati?" someone might ask. "Well, blah blah blah." Or, "Did you know Hlanhla and Patsimo are getting married?" etc. The best place to tell people about my health workshops is at the borehole.

by Steven Jacobson, Takaliawa (Matebeleland South), Zimbabwe

Transportation on water is not an issue in Takaliawa. Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, and Takaliawa is located in a desert filled with thorn bushes. You can walk around the dam in less than one hour. I don't think anyone here wants, needs, or knows how to make a boat and I'm quite sure the great Takaliawa flood will not be coming anytime soon.

by Robert Joppa, Gumira, Chipinge District, Zimbabwe

Zimbabweans have a ritual of hand-washing before every meal. A pitcher and basin are passed around even before sitting down to eat. Zimbabweans also use water in much the same way as Christians in the United States do to baptize children. The baptisms are conducted in rivers or in a church.

Traditionally the elders, "Kraal Heads," and chiefs would gather to consult the ancestors about the coming rains. These gatherings took place in September or October and would involve much singing and beer drinking. They would sing "Ririmubako rembira, ririmubako membira, Muterendende" ("He is in the rock rabbit's cave. He is in the rock rabbit's cave, Heavy Rain"). "Muterendende," or "Heavy Rain," is the name of the spirit that they would call upon. Heavy Rain would answer, "Ndakuenda muzosara nenhaka yemvura" ("I am going. You will live with the heritage of water powers"). This phrase would be sung over and over to the rhythm of a drum.

According to Mr. Mbodza (the oldest man in the village), that sort of ceremony has not taken place since the early 1980s, during the war of independence. The people who spoke to the ancestors have since died.

Mr. Mbodza also told me about a mermaid who lived (before the war) in a pond known as Bare in Mbwa mountain. She would beat her drum if rain was coming. It was forbidden to climb Mbwa mountain, because if the mermaid didn't like you, she would cast a spell on you that would leave you lost in the mountain range for eternity. The mermaid had many domestic animals all herded according to color. If you saw a flock of her animals, it meant you were soon to die.

I have also heard that water fairies exist even today in nearby Mount Chidzururwi.

Most people, however, go to the chief to ask about the coming rains. The rainy season here in the lowveld is from late October or early November to February or March.

by Robert Joppa, Gumira, Chipinge District, Zimbabwe

Across the Save River is Masapasa game ranch and commercial farm. They are a member of the Save River Conservancy, the largest private game reserve in the world. They are the only ones who have a boat. The boat is used only during the rainy season, when the river is too deep to cross on foot and when the crocodiles come out of the deep sections and spread throughout the entire river. The boat is used mainly by employees of Masapasa, or by me when I go for a visit or to use the nearest hot shower (a three hour walk each way).