'Stop foreign cultures in my area' Chief

Chief Mathema of Nqameni in Gwanda North has warned his subjects against bringing cultural habits from Mashonaland to his area.

Speaking in a ZBC Radio Zimbabwe programme "Ibuzwa kwabaphambili" on Saturday evening, Mathema lamented at how people in his area were copying practices of people from Mashonaland in conducting their funerals. According to the chief funerals in his area are no longer held in their traditional way and some can easily be confused for a party.

"Its sad to see people in Nqameni copying practices of people from Mashonaland and doing them here," he said.

Sigombe, as Mathema is known, raised issues like shaking of hands of the bereaved and dancing at funerals as being taboo in his area.

"In our culture we shack hands to congratulate someone so when you shack hands of a bereaved person what are you congratulating them of?"

The chief further questioned the types of songs that are sung at funerals including the dancing which he said are not for his area.

"Some of the songs are out of order. In our culture we sit down and sing sombre songs and not dance. Shonas do that its their cultute not here," he said.

The chief also took swipe at the way some people also dress at funerals saying some take funerals as fashion shows.

"Men must wear a jacket and a formal trousers not jeans and tshirts to show respect. Women must wear clothing that covers their knees and long sleeves and cover their heads completely not to look like they are going for a fashion show."

Chief Mathema is known for publicly rebuking anyone found behaving or dressed improperly in any gatherings in his area. A man from Sitezi village who identified himself as Ndlangamandla Khumalo applauded the chief for his stance.

"The chief is very right we have our culture to follow not sing and dance "kurura katundu" the whole night at a funeral, we are getting lost to other people," he said.