Eat healthy, says Zinatha

Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association has encouraged people to prioritise the consumption of traditional foods, which are nutritious and help boost the immune system. In an interview last week, Zinatha secretary-general for Chiredzi chapter, Mr Jonathan Mupamombe, most non-communicable diseases like cancer were being fuelled by the abandonment of traditional eating habits.

“The rate at which people are suffering from non-communicable diseases is worrisome. This has pushed us as traditional healers to step in and encourage fellow Zimbabweans to eat healthy,” he said.

“Genetically modified foods are not good for our health since they contain a high amount of chemicals. Such chemicals have a negative effect on our immune system.

“It is critical for Zimbabweans to start adjusting their daily eating habits and to embrace traditional dishes as part of their diet. In essence, people should eat wild fruits, vegetables and mealies regularly.”

He said besides having nutritional value, wild fruits, which include tsubvu, nyii and matohwe and vegetables like muboora, munyevhe and mufushwa contributed a lot to keeping the human body healthy.

“Prevention is better the cure, we have abundant stocks of sorghum, rapoko and millet in rural communities though in some cases people often reserve these for stock feeds, oblivious of how good they may enhance a healthy life.

“It is not a secret that most tablets and medicines come from herbs and trees, which we have in most rural areas. We must develop a culture of preserving these trees for the benefit of our future generations,” he said.

Sekuru Mupamombe said it was also crucial for society to pass on knowledge on the treatment of some ailments with natural herbs and the importance of consuming traditional dishes.

“Our children despite knowing the chemistry as the only medicinal source, they must be taught on traditional medicines and foods.

“For instance drinking mahewu or eating mutakura or wild fruits may help one to recover from various ailments even when you are taking tablets from the hospital,” he said.