By Sheldon Hakata
THE Karanga are a collection of Shona-speaking people in the southern parts of Zimbabwe.
Most of these people live in the Mberengwa District, Midlands Province.
Other several groups are also in the neighbouring districts of Zvishavane, Shurugwi Chivi and Zaka in Masvingo Province.
Upon entering the Chomuruvati area in Chivi District of Masvingo Province, the atmosphere was warm and filled with a jubilant gathering of ‘graduands’.
The centre of attraction was none other than Dr Joe White, born on December 5 1959 and completed his studies in Canada.
He later returned to Zimbabwe and worked at Harare Hospital as a pharmacist before transferring to Nyadire Hospital.
The Borrowdale Trust engaged him as a Theatre Medical Technician.
While there, Dr White met quite a number of patients suffering from cancer, caryopsis sarcoma, herpes simplex and haemorrhoids, among other ailments.
These ailments have no actual cure in modern medicine though and this inspired Dr White to ‘begin his herbal journey’.
Dr White registered with the Traditional Medical Practitioners’ Council and was granted a licence to practice.
Patients from as far as the UK, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden and the US, among other countries, enlist his services.
A surgery which opens daily at Chomuruvati Shopping Centre is complemented by a large herbal garden full of medicinal plants, such as the cassava plant.
Cassava powder can be mixed with other herbs known as paluba, quotexix and fentibal and has proved to be a good remedy for cancers.
Dr White currently resides in Chivi and Mberengwa where he trains locals to grow drought resistant plants, such as cassava which is rich in carbohydrates.
Cassava flour can make sadza, cakes, chips, bread and when mixed with milk it helps boost the immune system.
Recently, a total of six participants graduated on May 30 2023 after undergoing training in art and design, business management, manufacturing of traditional medicines, cultivation of medicinal herbs, legal advisory course and preparation of African traditional foods.
Tendai Chinenyanga, Spelile Shumba, Norah Ruwambara and Evelyn Madobi completed an eight-month course at Dr White’s institution.
Graduands explained the significance of traditional medicines in treatment and management of human diseases and ailments.
They brought to the fore that traditional medication practices play an important role in meeting basic healthcare to local communities in Zimbabwe.
It is not a secret that African medicine has practically remained the most affordable and easily reachable source of healing in primary healthcare systems of poor communities in the country.
Locals have had a very long history of traditional plant usage of medication.
Documentation of plants as medication is greatly needed as the knowledge should be well-kept.
The exploited plants could now be well-looked-after and used sustainably.
These plant species are used to treat diseases and disorders, such as gastro-intestinal disorders, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive problems, among others, in communities.
Traditional herbs and medicines are now so common in the country and particularly the Chomuruvati area where Dr White, a self-proclaimed healer, takes the lead in educating the community on the use of traditional herbs.
The trend has increased over the past years as the country’s currency crisis has seen drug prices spike out of reach of many.
“Traditional medicine can be sufficient on its own because one thing people should understand is modern medicine is an extract from these traditional herbs,” said Dr White.
“There is rapid growth in the number of people consuming traditional herbs and medicines, mostly those around this Chivi area.
“Traditional medication can now be accepted as a formal part of the country’s healthcare system controlled by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and our institution’s principle aim is to cure illness and disease, to restore good health and impart the knowledge to others.”
There are numerous plants that Dr White uses to treat ailments.
For instance, a shrub known as munhanzva and feso (a creeper) can be used to heal wounds.
The leaves of these plants, after being rubbed against each other, produce a slippery substance which is then smeared on the wound.
Gavakava, the aloe vera plant, is another medication for treatment of wounds.
A juicy liquid oozes out and this again can be smeared on the wound as a catalyst to the quick drying process.
It has greatly caught the attraction of practitioners as a curative medicine.
Other curative medicines recommended by the interviewees include cassava meal blended with other medicinal plant components.
“I am happy that I have completed the course because I have improved my knowledge of the importance of medicinal plant usage as well as sharpening some art carving skills”, said Ennety Madobi.
“On a rather different note, trees have indeed supported and sustained life throughout human existence.
“The sentimental value of vegetation is simply immeasurable.”
Another graduate Evelyn Madobi (Ennety’s sister) said: “Besides being beautiful and majestic, plants have furnished us with two of life’s essentials — food and oxygen.
“Trees provide additional necessities such as shelter, medicine and tools.
“Their value continues to increase as more benefits of plant life are being discovered and improved with a role expanding to satisfy the needs created by human lifestyles.”
Dr White said the economic support of the craft industry to human livelihood of the rural people of the drought-prone Chivi Communal Area cannot be over-emphasised.
Stone and wood carvings, clay pottery and fibre crafts, he said, have a cultural importance.
