News / Local
'Tsikamutanda prefer python just like prophets use annointing water'
10 May 2017 at 05:01hrs | Views
Witch hunters in Zimbabwe popularly known as Tsikamutanda and other traditional healers seem to have a strange love affair with pythons.
If media reports are anything to go by, pythons are their preferred 'tool' of trade.
Each time Tsikamutanda's perform their rituals, they are not short of pythons and in most cases the reptiles are usually killed by 'angry' villagers.
Fears have been raised that python population could be fast dwindling and questions have been asked as to why pythons are preferred by the notorious witch hunters.
It is alleged that when pythons are killed, there is a special oil traditional healers use which is in high demand.
Pythons are protected animals in Zimbabwe, and killing them is punishable with a fine or jail sentence.
Even so, locals attack them, partly because of superstition.
Often, businessmen are suspected of keeping pythons to ensure their enterprises prosper.
In March 2015, a dead python was found in a sack in Harare's well-off suburb of Borrowdale causing consternation, and speculation that it had been kept for ritual purposes.
Recently, a man in Harare was seen dragged two pythons through the streets as part of a witch-hunting exercise.
Images of the man dragging the two giant snakes along a dusty, mango tree-lined street were posted on social media.
Some sangoma's claim that giant pythons serves as a "network" allowing them to speak to his ancestors.
According to the Zimbabwe National Parks website under Problem Animal Control section, "After the Python is caught it is not killed because it is an endangered species. Instead, it is disposed into its natural habitat where the area is protected e.g. Lake Chivero Recreational Park or Darwendale Recreational Park".
Pathisa Nyathi, a cultural fundi and renowned historian said the python has since origins of human has been used by traditional healers as a means of rejuvenating, reviving, or renewing their powers to heal.
He said it is believed that the python can wake up after being killed and its use by traditional healers symbolizes a renewed strength to heal.
"It gives the healer the power to be always renewed. It is the instrument for traditional healers powers renewal," he said.
He however said the reasons why witch hunters are found with pythons is because they want to use it for enterprising purposes so that their powers to cheat people is renewed.
He said by right the use of a python must not be known or done in public because it can destroy social cohesion.
A Bulawayo resident said witch-hunters prefer pythons to boost their business as they are in "cut-throat but barely noticeable competition".
"Traditional healers are also in a business that has cut-throat but barely noticeable competition.
"So any healer who use the most weird and fearsome animal's parts get more customers.
" Its like the modern day clergy, anyone who doesn't sell his own 'anointing water' isn't seen as powerful or credible. Pythons are to traditional healers what anointing water is to modern day prophets in Zimbabwe" he said on condition on anonymity.
He added " There are many mystical African legend stories associated with it, and as such, healers believe that using parts of its anatomy in invigorates and makes the concoctions powerful. It also goes with the psychology of the people who go to traditional.
"Animals to them symbolise power, and the use of body parts from fierce animals such as pythons, crocodile, lions, fits with the pysche of the customer and is good for business".
The python population is said not to be threatened as it is a shy, big-game hunter animal that prefers to live away from human-populated areas.
However, it faces a serious problem of habitat loss arising from human encroachment and the traditional medicine value also make it a hunted animal.
In 2015, a 78 year old Marange granny, Willie Mutasa revealed that she endured more than two decades ordeal of being sexually abused by a three-metre-long python on a daily basis.
The reptile was finally killed.
She confessed that the python was a thorn in his flesh after acquiring it as a magical charm from a Chipinge-based traditional healer around 1973.
Zimhofu villagers under Chief Ndanga area in Zaka were in shock in 2015 after more than 30 pythons were found on top of a grave.
If media reports are anything to go by, pythons are their preferred 'tool' of trade.
Each time Tsikamutanda's perform their rituals, they are not short of pythons and in most cases the reptiles are usually killed by 'angry' villagers.
Fears have been raised that python population could be fast dwindling and questions have been asked as to why pythons are preferred by the notorious witch hunters.
It is alleged that when pythons are killed, there is a special oil traditional healers use which is in high demand.
Pythons are protected animals in Zimbabwe, and killing them is punishable with a fine or jail sentence.
Even so, locals attack them, partly because of superstition.
Often, businessmen are suspected of keeping pythons to ensure their enterprises prosper.
In March 2015, a dead python was found in a sack in Harare's well-off suburb of Borrowdale causing consternation, and speculation that it had been kept for ritual purposes.
Recently, a man in Harare was seen dragged two pythons through the streets as part of a witch-hunting exercise.
Images of the man dragging the two giant snakes along a dusty, mango tree-lined street were posted on social media.
Some sangoma's claim that giant pythons serves as a "network" allowing them to speak to his ancestors.
According to the Zimbabwe National Parks website under Problem Animal Control section, "After the Python is caught it is not killed because it is an endangered species. Instead, it is disposed into its natural habitat where the area is protected e.g. Lake Chivero Recreational Park or Darwendale Recreational Park".
Pathisa Nyathi, a cultural fundi and renowned historian said the python has since origins of human has been used by traditional healers as a means of rejuvenating, reviving, or renewing their powers to heal.
"It gives the healer the power to be always renewed. It is the instrument for traditional healers powers renewal," he said.
He however said the reasons why witch hunters are found with pythons is because they want to use it for enterprising purposes so that their powers to cheat people is renewed.
He said by right the use of a python must not be known or done in public because it can destroy social cohesion.
A Bulawayo resident said witch-hunters prefer pythons to boost their business as they are in "cut-throat but barely noticeable competition".
"Traditional healers are also in a business that has cut-throat but barely noticeable competition.
"So any healer who use the most weird and fearsome animal's parts get more customers.
" Its like the modern day clergy, anyone who doesn't sell his own 'anointing water' isn't seen as powerful or credible. Pythons are to traditional healers what anointing water is to modern day prophets in Zimbabwe" he said on condition on anonymity.
He added " There are many mystical African legend stories associated with it, and as such, healers believe that using parts of its anatomy in invigorates and makes the concoctions powerful. It also goes with the psychology of the people who go to traditional.
"Animals to them symbolise power, and the use of body parts from fierce animals such as pythons, crocodile, lions, fits with the pysche of the customer and is good for business".
The python population is said not to be threatened as it is a shy, big-game hunter animal that prefers to live away from human-populated areas.
However, it faces a serious problem of habitat loss arising from human encroachment and the traditional medicine value also make it a hunted animal.
In 2015, a 78 year old Marange granny, Willie Mutasa revealed that she endured more than two decades ordeal of being sexually abused by a three-metre-long python on a daily basis.
The reptile was finally killed.
She confessed that the python was a thorn in his flesh after acquiring it as a magical charm from a Chipinge-based traditional healer around 1973.
Zimhofu villagers under Chief Ndanga area in Zaka were in shock in 2015 after more than 30 pythons were found on top of a grave.
Source - Byo24News
