Traditional healers worried about influx of sex herbs

SEX enhancement products and concoctions have become the epitome of today's relationships, with many people flocking to different herbalists and traditional healers that claim they are able to enhance sexual prowess.

This growing phenomenon in Zimbabwe has led to an influx of foreign traditional healers and herbalists claiming to have powerful herbs that can enhance one's libido.

The development has, however, raised the ire of local traditional healers and herbalists, who feel that people are being taken for a ride by some of these foreigners.

"Some of these so-called foreign powerful traditional healers are just here to dupe people, as they only seek to enrich themselves. Such profanity should be persecuted. It is sad to note how gullible some of our country folk are when it comes to such issues.

"Most of these herbalists and healers get their herbs and concoctions from us and repackage them for resale. In some cases that we come across as local traditional healers, people are given overdoses and it then becomes a problem to us, as we then have to heal these patients. It boggles the mind why someone would really prefer to seek the help of a foreigner, who won't be in the country for long? Do people really consider the side effects of these medicines? It is these foreigners that give us a bad name," said Emakhandeni-based traditional healer, Eddington Virimayi popularly known as SaManyika.

The Manicaland born, Bulawayo-based traditional healer alleged that some of the foreign healers sneak into the country under the guise of tourists and end up practicing illegally.

"Most of these sneak into Zimbabwe pretending to be tourists yet they come to con people of their money. Not only do they dupe Zimbabweans but they promote untidiness in the streets with their fliers.

"Such things make us wonder whether authorities in the immigration department, city council and even law enforcement agents are carrying out their duties. If at all they always bother us registered traditional healers," he said.

A female herbalist, who operates at Makokoba's famous Mkambo Mall, said she was concerned about the risk people were putting themselves in.

"It is really worrying how people are just blown with the wind. Do they know where these herbs come from, nor the side effects they have? Sex really is driving people insane nowadays. Married couples are indeed living like brother and sister and are so desperate to get medicines that can boost their sexual libidos," she said.

The herbalist, who preferred anonymity, noted that people shouldn't solely depend on herbs and concoctions to boost their sexual appetite.

"People have become too much dependent on herbs. Even traditional foods contain extracts that can boost one's libido," she added before turning her back to sprinkle water around her stall and lighting up some herbs.

International Traditional Healers Association (Itha) president, David Mhabinyana Ngwenya, lamented the trend, blaming it on the Traditional Medicines Council, which he sits on as a board member, stating that they are responsible for the influx of foreign "bogus" healers.

"They are responsible for this feat, they are tasked with monitoring such activities yet they do nothing and instead issue these foreign healers with phony licenses. I don't know whether to call it dead or defunct seeing as they have not been and are not carrying out their duties. There has never been a meeting called by the organisation and since 2012 I have never been invited to attend any seminar or meeting organised by them.

"The organisation is made up of corrupt officials and it needs serious purging, as they are the ones who issue fake licenses to foreign healers. Perhaps they do so for their own gain. You will find that the organisation is made up of people that are not traditional healers. This is a serious cause of concern that should be attended to without fail," said Ngwenya.

Over the past few years Zimbabwe has witnessed an increase in foreign traditional healers, with most of them claiming to specialise in "sexual healing".