Chronicle Editor
Nkomo Fortune, online writer
The first “Ibhoro” festival commemoration held at Garia Dam inTsholotsho under Chief Goledema from 15 to 17 August saw the San community showcasing their diverse traditional practices, honouring the installation of their Chief, whose aim is to revive the rich San culture and ensure his people are included in national programmes.
The festival was organised by the Tso-ro-Tso community-based organisation in partnership with Brother to Brother and the National Aids Council (NAC). The event was supported by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), who brought cadres of San origin who are being trained at Anju Farm Prison in Umguza District. They performed breathtaking drills in a bid to motivate youths under Chief Goledema’s jurisdiction and the surrounding areas to apply for similar Government programmes.
The recruitment, focusing mainly on San youths, started in 2021 and was initially treated with skepticism, but now the results are promising.
In his speech, Chief Goledema said, “The move by ZPCS to recruit the once marginalised people of San origins shows us that there is life in Zimbabwe, as such youths should not want to migrate to South Africa. I am appealing to all Government departments to assist my people in all spheres and that the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) consider that there are so many children in my area who do not attend school due to lack of funds.”
Those who attended the festival were obliged to camp for three days in the open, as the third day was declared a day for rain making ceremony, where the elderly visited the shrine to request for adequate rain for this coming farming season.
The event was however went low tone as community members had high hopes that in preparation for the event they would be given permission to hunt for at least a month so that they could obtain game skins.
“When conducting Ibhoro festival, we are not allowed to use domestic animal skins as our traditional gear. We want to be allowed to hunt first, and prepare game skins so that the event will be typical of our traditions.” Said Mr Clever Ndlovu.
The Parks and Wildlife Act [Chapter 20:14] section 11 states that: “(1) The minister may by notice in a statutory instrument, declare any area to be a hunting area. (2) The Director-General may, subject to such conditions as he may impose, issue a permit to any person to hunt any animal specified in the permit in a hunting area.” The types of hunting permits that can be used, outlined in section 11 (3) include (i) recreational hunting permits (ii) Commercial hunting permits (iii) problem animal control permit and (iv) Scientific research permits
Online Reporter