Insight into the Duma clan’s unique burials

Saturday showed that the Ziki people were still very much steeped in tradition.
Chief Ziki died in Kadoma last week after a short illness.
Before the chief’s body was taken to a sacred cave in the nearby Nedombwe Hill, a group of women comprising those married into the Ziki clan were singing obscenities.
Mourners were warned against crying because, according Mr Nyika Ziki (81), an uncle to the late Chief Ziki, a chief never dies, but goes to rest and leaves the vacancy for a new one.
As the hearse carrying Chief Ziki’s body was passing past a group of mourners on the way to its final resting place, everybody, including VIPs, were ordered to move from their chairs and sit on the ground as a way of showing respect.
The actual burial of the chief is not attended by ordinary people, but only grey-haired people.
“The burial of our chief according to our custom is not witnessed by young people,” said Nyika.
Before arrival at the cave where Chief Ziki’s remains were interred, the select group of mourners accompanying the body was further screened with only nephews, aunts and wives of the chiefs’ brothers being allowed to reach his final resting place.
The chief’s body was buried in a casket  wrapped in a cow hide.
This was a departure from tradition as the Duma chiefs are normally buried in cow hide.
“We requested for the chief’s body to be buried in a casket because we explained that times have changed and the late chief had also worked hard in his life so he deserved to be buried in a casket wrapped with a cow hide,” said the late Chief Ziki’s cousin brother Mr Boers Nedombwe.
Masvingo Governor and Resident Minister Titus Maluleke commended the Ziki people for following their tradition.
“The way they handled everything was quite advanced and it shows that these people still follow their tradition and culture, which is good,” he said.
Major General Engelbert Rugeje, who is also of the Duma clan, said they were very particular when it comes to following their culture and tradition.
Sources at the funeral explained why only women past menopause were allowed to accompany the chief’s body to its final resting place
“Just before burying the chief’s body, the women strip, exposing their private parts to the dead chief,” said the source.
There are many other traditions followed by the Ziki people.
A sitting chief does not shake hands with anyone after being installed.