malvernmugadzikwa
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
IN this article, I explain the way disability is traditionally conceptualised in Zimbabwe, especially in a context where it is believed to be caused by spirits, which come in different forms, among them mamhepo (malevolent spirits), ngozi (avenging spirit), mudzimu (a benevolent spirit), taboos and witchcraft.
Mamhepo are believed to be wicked spirits that can easily be sent to an individual by people who are reportedly jealous of his or her success, or who harbour bitterness, anger or hatred for one reason or another.
People who cast malevolent spirits on others are understood to be so evil that they can even lob a spell on a pregnant woman so that she gives birth to a child with disabilities or causes the offspring to acquire disabilities later on in life.
Some people believe in ngozi (avenging spirit), which is the spirit of a dead person whose death is believed to have been instigated by another individual.
The avenging spirit reportedly rises from the grave to torment those who caused the death, thus bringing illness, death or disability upon them or their families.
As such, if there are recurrent deaths, illnesses or disabilities within a particular family, society often interprets such occurrences as a manifestation of an avenging spirit.
Mudzimu is usually the spirit of a dead elderly member of the family.
Such a spirit is regarded as the first point of connection in a very long string of ancestors who mediate with God for the protection of all surviving members of the deceased’s family descent.
The benevolent spirit is reportedly responsible for taking care of all surviving family members of the deceased by protecting them from all forms of vulnerabilities, including disabilities.
However, it is believed that when the spirit is offended or disrespected, it may retaliate by taking away its protective shield, resulting in the errant family being exposed to all kinds of vulnerabilities, which commonly include illness, injury, disability or death.
People are expected to ensure that they keep the benevolent spirit happy at all times by maintaining peaceful family relations, taking good care of any possessions that the dead may have left behind and carrying out regular traditional ceremonies to commemorate the deceased.
The traditional custom of hosting a beer party on a yearly basis to remember the ancestors is, therefore, a widely accepted ritual for reverencing the benevolent spirit.
In Zimbabwe, witchcraft is also widely believed to be one of the major causes of disability.
However, few studies have been carried out on witchcraft.
Compared to men, it is mostly women who are believed to dabble in witchcraft.
Such women are said to have, for example, failed to bear children or are doing well in various spheres of life.
These groups of women often become easy targets, resulting in them being blamed for witchcraft or causing disabilities in society.
Disabilities in children are often said to signal parental violation of taboos, which reportedly include having inadequate sex in the earlier months of a pregnancy or outside marriage, incest, staring at a snake or eating eggs during pregnancy, or sleeping with a ghost.
However, taboos often differ depending on the geographical area and totem group to which the family belongs.
Historically, taboos in most parts of Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, demanded the killing of children who were born with disabilities on the grounds that they were “abnormal” and would be a bad omen to families.
Whilst the practice of hiding children with disabilities due to shame may still be prevalent in Zimbabwe, the habit of killing them has now been discontinued.
Such practices serve as a barometer that can be used to measure the extent to which people may be fearful of disability.
Disability is also conceptualised in contemporary terms, which I will unpack in future articles.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013), the Disabled Persons Act (Chapter 17:01) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are key instruments that provide the contemporary understanding of disability.
Some leading scholars have undertaken research on rehabilitation in Zimbabwe and they have provided insightful information, some of which I have unpacked above.
But in line with the National Disability Policy, under Section 3.29, which is dedicated to research, there is a need for additional scholars to undertake serious studies on disability and rehabilitation in Zimbabwe. This, it is envisaged, will enable us to generate data on associated traditional, religious and contemporary practices that ultimately inform policy and practice.
Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She is the national director of Disability Affairs in Zimbabwe. She can be contacted on: developafrica2020@ gmail.com
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