Traditional leaders revive rain-making ceremony in Zhombe

SCORES of villagers converged at Chief Gwesela’s homestead in Zhombe, Midlands Province, at the weekend for the annual rain-making ceremony, a traditional ritual held to invoke rains ahead of the farming season.

The event, known locally as mutorera, drew together traditional leaders, villagers and representatives from various religious denominations in a show of unity and cultural preservation.

The ceremony symbolises the people’s deep-rooted belief in ancestral guidance and the harmony between humanity, nature and spirituality.

Rain-making ceremonies, known by different names such as mutorera or mukwerera, are ancient cultural rituals performed to seek ancestral blessings for sufficient rainfall and a fruitful harvest.

These gatherings are usually presided over by chiefs and spirit mediums, who act as conduits between the people and their ancestors.

Although such practices had declined in recent decades due to urbanisation and changing religious beliefs, they have been revived under the Second Republic’s drive to promote heritage-based development and cultural preservation. Beyond their spiritual purpose, the ceremonies also serve to unite communities, reinforce indigenous belief systems and strengthen harmony between people and nature.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, said such traditional ceremonies are a vital cog in preserving cultural norms while fostering unity and development within communities.

“This event dovetails with the Second Republic’s vision of promoting heritage-based innovation and development. Traditional leaders play an integral role as custodians of our culture, mediators and advocates for community development,” he said.

Minister Ncube commended the Government’s support for traditional leaders through programmes such as Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala Senkosi, which ensures food security for vulnerable families and the devolution programme, which has delivered infrastructure such as clinics, schools and roads.

“Accordingly, I wish to express my profound appreciation to the New Dispensation for issuing vehicles to our chiefs from Midlands Province as well as a plethora of other interventions that address the welfare and strengthen the role of traditional leadership, which include, Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala Senkosi programme that provides grain for vulnerable communities, “ he said.

Minister Ncube said despite illegal sanctions, the Government continues to roll out tangible projects, citing the Dinson Iron and Steel Plant in Manhize and ongoing road rehabilitation works, including the Kwekwe–Zhombe–Chitekete Road.

“Under devolution funds, the Government is providing key infrastructure in communities to accelerate attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030, leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.

Minister Ncube said these signature projects and programmes justify Resolution Number 1, which supports the attainment of Vision 2030 under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa.

“These signature projects reflect our collective resolve to achieve Vision 2030 under President Mnangagwa’s leadership,” he said.

Chief Gwesela said hosting the rain-making ceremony was essential to seek divine intervention for good rains and to prevent disasters associated with violent storms.

“We want the rains to come peacefully. Sometimes lives are lost through violent rains. What we have done is meant to appease the spirits so that we enjoy a fruitful farming season,” said Chief Gwesela.

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has forecasted normal to above-normal rainfall for the 2025/2026 agricultural season, raising optimism among farmers as they prepare their fields.