Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa in MBERENGWA
A TOTAL of 312 Lemba initiates were ceremonially welcomed back from Dumbwi raMposi mountain by Chief Mposi after completing a month‑long rite of passage programme, indicating cultural practices as central to sustaining national heritage and identity.
The graduation ceremony, set by The Sun that Never Set organisation of VaRemba people in Mberengwa, highlighted the enduring role of indigenous customs in shaping discipline, unity, and pride among young people.
Speaking to The Herald yesterday, leaders emphasised that cultural preservation was not only about safeguarding heritage, but also about reinforcing national development through identity and community cohesion.
The Sun That Never Sets chairperson and cultural custodian, Mr Mukanganiki Mupandasekwa , of the Seremani clan emphasised the importance of cultural custodianship and the need to protect sacred spaces and traditions from erosion.
“It is our heritage that we should safeguard sacred cultural places and shrines such as Dumbwi raMposi mountain and other areas such as Manjiribwe, Mubaki, Marozva , Mutandavanji and Chimwandawu,” he said.
“We are engaged to preserve cultural erosion through a cultural organisation named The Sun That Never Sets, bringing together the Lemba, Changani, Chewa and Venda as they were since time immemorial.”
Mr Mupandasekwa extended his gratitude to President Mnangagwa for launching Culture Day at Rusununguko Secondary School.
“It inspired the community to celebrate and practice their culture in their own unique way.”
By instilling discipline, respect, and historical awareness, the ceremony demonstrates that heritage is not a relic of the past but a living force shaping the country’s future.
Chief Mposi III (Edmos Mpangeri), who is from Sadik clan, urged the initiates to uphold discipline and cultural values as a foundation for community building.
“Remain solid to the culture away from mischievous behaviours like drug abuse and violence. This is a chance to show your pride, courage and dedication towards building the community and sustaining what we call cultural,” he said.
The Sun that Never Set founder Allan Mupandasekwa also from Seremani clan reflected on the deeper historical roots of the VaRemba and their role in preserving Zimbabwe’s cultural sovereignty.
“The Lemba people have remained rooted to the ways of their ancestors who walked the land before history books took shape,” he said.
He added, “Their participation in preserving Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage co‑engages with the President’s move towards cultural sovereignty, making a unique mark in the nation’s history books.”
He highlighted that the VaRemba community preserves its identity through a system of 12 ancestral houses.
“The VaRemba people are organised into 12 ancestral houses which are; Seremani, Sharifu, Hassan, Madi, Hatibu, Dumha, Hamis, Sadik, Imaan, Tawakali, Hajj, and Bakari — a lineage they proudly trace back to Abraham.
“Rooted in origins from Sena in Yemen, they uphold circumcision as a sacred covenant passed down through generations, anchoring their identity and oral history as a living link between faith, culture, and heritage,” he said.
