MP in camp for traditional circumcision

From Tawanda Mangoma in CHIREDZI
zanu-pf Chiredzi South Member of Parliament Retired Brigadier-General Kalisto Gwanetsa is part of an estimated 2 500 participants, who are camped at various centres across Chiredzi District to undergo Shangaan cultural initiation and circumcision. One of the chiefs in the area, Chief Tshovani, confirmed that the ruling party legislator would be one of the graduates from the circumcision camps on Saturday.

The initiates have been in camp since the beginning of last month.

Participants at the annual rite, which is regarded as sacred and a must for Shangaan men, are traditionally drawn from Sengwe, Gudo and Tshovani communal lands that are pre-dominated by the Shangaan people.

In an interview with The Herald Southern Edition yesterday, Chief Tshovani, Mr Hlaisi Mundau, refused to shed more light on where exactly Rtd Brig Gen Gwanetsa was camped.

“The MP is in camp (undergoing circumcision and initiation), but I am not at liberty to disclose the exact location,” said Chief Tshovani.

“It’s a taboo to tell you what will be transpiring at the initiation camps. Just know that he is safe.”

Reliable sources said Rtd Brig Gen Gwanetsa was camped at Tshovani Camp, which was within the immediate surroundings of Chief Tshovani’s homestead.

Last year, Rtd Brig-Gen Gwanetsa reportedly escaped from Old Boli Business Centre in Chikombedzi after an attempt to force him to undergo circumcision and initiation.

Chiredzi District Medical Superintendent Dr David Tarumbwa said they helped circumcise about 2 500 male initiates this year, who were camped at various camps across the district.

He expressed satisfaction with the way the process went.

“We managed to cover all camps, which had people gathered and requesting our surgical circumcision service,” he said. “All processes went well.

“We thank the headmen and chiefs for being patient enough to wait for our team of nurses, who were moving from one camp to another (circumcising the inmates).

“We are rounding up now, all camps have been covered and by Friday more than 2 500 boys and men would have been circumcised without any problems.”

The groups, which are camped at Chilonga, Mavhavaza, Mupapa, Chingele, Muchindu and Mhlanguleni, will converge at Muhlanguleni Community Grounds for a pass-out parade on Saturday.