adminTendai Gukutikwa Mutare Bureau
Chief Zimunya and headmen from his area held a cleansing ceremony at Manicaland Provincial Heroes Acre prior to Heroes Day celebrations held in Mutare on Monday.
The shrine was reportedly violated by an unidentified politician in a desperate bid to gain political power last year, prompting the traditional leaders to host the cleansing rituals just before the events started on Monday.
Chief Zimunya and his delegation drank traditional beer, slaughtered a white sheep and a white chicken whose blood was used for cleansing rituals. They also brought white rice, with the colour white being peculiar in the sense that it is regarded as a symbol of purity.
The shrine had been deemed violated after unidentified people were alleged to have sneaked in, sprinkled ashes, cooking oil, rapoko and many other traditional crops on 255 graves. The perpetrators went away unnoticed.
Chief Zimunya said the intentions of the perpetrators who violated the heroes’ graves with their bizarre ritual that, however, failed, were probably after gaining political power in the province. He said the alleged politician wanted to boost his political power, though he could not reveal his identity.
“We already know the perpetrator,” said Chief Zimunya.
“He is someone who wants to gain great powers in this province; political power taken from the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who are resting here.
“He chose them because they were great warriors and most of them died in battle and it is that power that he wanted for himself. However, all that is nothing now because the place has been cleansed and the violation was discovered in time.
“Had it been that it was not discovered in time, power would have been in the wrong hands by now.”
Chief Zimunya said it was their duty as the traditional leadership to cleanse the violated area.
“We failed to cleanse the graves of the fallen heroes ahead of last year’s celebrations because we were waiting for the Government to give a go ahead,” said Chief Zimunya.
He said the office of the Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Cde Mandi Chimene, finally gave him permission to cleanse the violated area since he was the area’s traditional leader. To date, Manicaland Provincial Heroes’ Acre is home to 231 fallen heroes and 42 fallen heroines.
Online Reporter