Thread by @Chinamasa_PA

Babamunini Sebastian Haparari born 1926 died last year aged 95. He was of the Chikata mheta water python,totem. He married my late mother’s young sister Maria. Mainini Maria was raised by my late mother after the untimely death of their mother Euphrasia, my maternal grandmother

So I regard Mainini Maria more of a sister than a mainini. Whilst I chipped in, meeting the burial expenses I was unable for various reasons to attend the burial of Babamunini Sebastian.

So on Wed 19 Jan 2022 I made the journey, kundobata maoko, to the Haparari village in Zambe area under Headman Chikumbu in Mutasa District. The district where my rukuvute & dzinza are. Born there but left at 4yrs after my father’s death to live with my martenal uncles in Makoni.

To get to Haparari village you take the Nyanga road from Rusape turn right at Nyabadza Turn Off (former National Assembly Speaker & ZanuPF Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa & Basil Nyabadza hail from this area), then onto Ndingi village (Simba Makoni ‘s birthplace),

... pass through Haisoswi (late Maurice Nyagumbo’s home area), Svikiro Gambe, Giriya,Chemusango (my adopted village), Rugoyi, Chitsanza, Chingono, Gwidza, Gandanzara, Chikomwe villages in Makoni District, then crossing Nyatande bridge over Nyatande river ...

..which forms the boundary between Makoni & Mutasa Districts & I reach Haparari homestead. I find Mainini
Maria sitting on a chair on the veranda (Mainini Maria is now 84 & walks only with the aid of a walking stick)

& I am pleasantly greeted by birds which have nested on 2 of the trees by the kitchen & granary room. We exchange greetings as is our custom & I convey my condolences. Thereafter a relative staying with Mainini is asked to lead me to the grave where they buried Babamunini,

...a stone’s throw from the homestead. The grave site was chosen by Babamunini two years before his death & is by the side of a big rock boulder. At grave site as is the tradition I pick a loose stone, kneel on one knee & speaking audibly I commune with the spirit of the deceased

I identify myself by name & tell him (the spirit of the deceased) that I have come to convey my condolences on his passing on & ask that in his spiritual realm he pleads with Musikavanhu for benign spirits to hover over & protect his surviving widow, children & grandchildren ...

After I finish the brief ritual, I stand up & give my back to the grave and not turn back (a parting & final farewell to the dead as it were). I return to the homestead & was now free to wonder around the fields & observe the state of the crops & livestock.

The road from Nyabadza Turn Off to Haparari homestead passes through communal land & the greater part falls within the constituency I served as MP (2013-2018).As I journeyed through, I made several key observations mainly pertaining to the state of the current agricultural season

First key observation: I was generally pleased with the crop situation especially from the Nyabadza Turn Off up to Rugoyi Village. The maize crop ‘mumera wekutanga ‘(older maize crop) is well established & has received early & adequate rains.

Second key observation:from Chitsanza & Chingono villages to Haparari village there is ‘mumera mudiki‘ (young maize crop), because of delayed & it would appear patchy rains.

Third key observation: going by the fields along the route that I travelled the crop situation (whether mumera wekutanga kana mumera mudiki) is generally good thanks to the Government sponsored Pfumvudza programme(at Rugoyi top dressing fertilizer was actually being distributed).

Fourth key observation: at Haparari homestead the maize crop (mumera mudiki) looked excellent.

Fifth key observation:at the Haparari homestead as along the whole route there are mangoes galore & being too far from markets going to waste.

Sixth observation: evident along the route is the fruition of the tobacco growing project I introduced into the area to smallscale peasant subsistence farmers when I was their MP . They do one hectare plots supported by tobacco merchants/contractors.

The dry land tobacco crop I observed by the road side is in good condition & well taken care of. Of environmental interest is the fact that the contractors supplying firewood (generally wattle & gumtree) to fire the barns for curing the tobacco.

Wattle & gumtree logs are dropped at strategic points along the highway for farmers to come with their ox drawn scotch carts & cart them away to their respective homesteads.

Sixth observation: the Haparari cattle herd as well as the communal livestock herd I came across along the route was generally in good condition. Except in isolated cases, they graze communally (zvemajana ). Thanks to the Government Ticks programme entire herds were tickfree.

Seventh observation: along the route I came across 3 combies with 2 or 3 passengers perching on top of the roof of the combie. Daredevils I would say ...

As I got back to Nyabadza Turn Off I came across one combie which had just loaded but still stationary with 2 happy roof passengers (no doubt oblivious of the danger). Those who have eyes let them ‘eye’ & those with ears let them ‘ear’.
#NyikaInovakwaNeveneVayo
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