Walter Nyamukondiwa in KARIBA
TRADITIONAL leaders on both sides of Lake Kariba have been conducting rain-making ceremonies in line with their Tonga tradition in a bid to stop further decline of water levels in the lake, which is crucial to both Zimbabwe and Zambia. There is widespread concern among people around the lake and the country owing to decreasing water levels which have been attributed to low rainfall in the catchment area, while some chiefs argued that it could be as a result of failure to conduct traditional rites.

Comparative October figures from 2013-15 show that there is gradual decline of water levels as Lake Kariba is now 23 percent full compared to 62 percent in 2015 and 66 percent in 2013. Poor rainfall on the catchment area, plus high generation of power have been cited as the reasons for declining water levels. The water levels have not gone down to such levels since the 1995-96 season amid concerns the river god, Nyaminyami, could be in need of appeasement.

The Nyaminyami, otherwise known as the Zambezi River god or Zambezi Snake spirit, is one of the most important gods of the Tonga people which is believed to protect and give them sustenance. The Nyaminyami is described as having the body of a snake and the head of a fish. The low water levels have affected electricity generation for both Zimbabwe and Zambia which depend on the Kariba Hydro Power Station.

Chief Nebiri of Kariba on the Zimbabwean side conducted a public “bira” on October 17, while Chief Chipepo of the Valley Tonga people in Zambia had conducted his ceremony earlier.

Chiefs Nebiri and his Zimbabwean counterpart Chief Msampakaruma attended the ceremony in Zambia. Kariba District administrator Mr Amigo Mhlanga confirmed the development, adding that a series of such ceremonies have been lined up. Chief Msampakaruma is expected to hold his bira on October 31 and other chiefs in the district are expected to attend, together with Chief Chipepo of Zambia.

“I can confirm that a bira was held in Chief Nebiri’s area on Saturday, October 17 in line with Tonga traditions,” said Mr Mhlanga. “However, I am not privy to what they said in their prayers during the rites. It’s for them.” Mr Mhlanga said chiefs have not been able to regularly conduct the rain-making rites owing to lack financial resources to feed the people.

“We have, however, managed to come up with initiatives to assist them hold their biras as and when they are due,” he said. The Zambezi River Authority, which manages Lake Kariba, also confirmed the biras. “ZRA respects the traditional cultures of the communities through which it operates,” said communications manager Mrs Elizabeth Karonga.

“However, ZRA does not direct the traditional rites, but supports the initiatives as it did when Chief Nebire of the Tonga/Korekore people of the Zambezi Valley in Kariba District held his first ever public ‘Bira’ on Saturday, 17th October 2015 in his chiefdom. “This followed an invitation to a similar ceremony by Chief Chipepo of the Valley Tonga people in Zambia. The displaced communities of the Zambezi Valley in Zambia hold annual traditional rites in their chiefdoms as do all other tribes.”

Mrs Karonga said ZRA could not do much to arrest the declining water levels, but called for controlled water usage.