THE Remba culture and Islam have some similarities.
But, unless Muslim by religion, the Remba people do not pray five times a day and they do not attend the mosque.
However, Remba tribal names, though Hebrew by origin, are often spoken with Arabic enunciation, for example, Solomon which is pronounced by the Remba as Seremani/Sulumani is from the Arabic Sulaiyman/Suleiman.
Remba initiation ceremonies in the wilderness also have similarities to those of Muslim groups from places like Yemen and are not done in the fashion of Talmudic Judaism in synagogues.
In the 1980s, Muslims from around the world came to Mberengwa and other places in Zimbabwe where there are Remba people to establish a connection with them based on observed cultural similarity.
Through these efforts, the Remba began donning kafia hats and possessing purely Arabic first names like Assan, Amin and Rahman, among others.
When the Muslims tried to convert the Remba into Muslims, they won a few converts, but these remained Remba in practice.
When the threat of organised conversion of the whole Remba community of Mberengwa to Muslims became imminent, Chief Mpangeri of the Mposi area was advised by some informed Remba individuals that these developments may end up compromising orthodox Remba culture as they knew it and lead to confusion.
Chief Mpangeri took heed of this advice and since then, Muslims have remained among the Remba only as affiliates and sponsors.
They make little efforts to convert the Remba, but simply stress that the Remba culture seems very Islamic.
This is owed to the fact that the ancestors of the Remba came to Africa directly from Sena in South-Arabia.
Remba people in places like Hwedza and some parts of Masvingo have been greatly influenced by Islam and even attend the mosque.
However, unlike Judaism, Islam does not teach the Remba that they used to be anything, but black.
Islam also uncovers the Sabaean-Israelite identity that the ancestors of the Remba possessed in Sena (Saba).
When the Jews comprehended the Islamic influences within the Remba community, they began demonising Islam during their sermons.
It quickly became obvious to the Remba that Jews did not like Muslims because they discouraged Remba people from using Arabic post-initiation names.
Although this advice is good, the intentions of the Jews in verbally attacking the Arabs are suspicious.
Before long, we may have the Islamic, Jewish, and non-religious Remba people fighting each other when they were initially one lineage with one solid culture.
In order to fully understand the suspiciousness of the American Jewish mission in Mberengwa, we must look at how their organisation works abroad.
The US-based Jewish Voice Ministries is headed by Rabbi Jonathan Bernis.
The Ministry has a TV show which is presented by Rabbi Bernis.
On this show, the Lemba/Remba story was told several times to the live audience who are white.
The Remba were presented as a lost tribe of Israel.
The viewers were told God would bless them if they helped His chosen people.
Footage of the expeditions they made in India, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia was shown.
In the case of Zimbabwe, they did not inform viewers that some of the people who were standing in the queues for medical treatment were non-Remba.
The show went further to say they would be taking donations in the form of money and voluntary expertise.
They promised gifts of calendars with pictures of the Remba and other Israelite groups in Ethiopia and India if one donates more than US$40.
They bring these volunteers and funds on their missions to Mberengwa and do not inform the Remba that they used their identity to source the gifts.
The Remba will be assuming whites are simply wealthier than them and have much to spare, not knowing that their identity has been used as a fundraising and charity case.
Besides these donations for the Remba, the Jewish Voice Ministry has what it calls ‘shalom partners’.
These are described as special people with great love for the Jews whom God brings about their path.
These shalom partners are at the centre of everything the ministry does.
Their generosity and faithfulness is measured through monthly donations to the ministry.
There are different ranks among the partners, with donors giving monthly installments ranging from US$25, US$50, US$100 and more.
Those who donate US$50 a month are called ‘gold partners’ and those who donate US$100 a month are called ‘platinum partners’.
The funds from these partners allow them to plan outreaches like that of Mberengwa, save money and do other things.
The outreaches of Jewish Voice Ministries in Africa can be traced back to 1999 in Gondar, Ethiopia.
Their first outreach in Mberengwa was in May/June 2012 and they have been coming on an annual basis since.
They now have Remba converts who look after their interests in their absence.
A short distance away from Chaza Growth Point, there is now a synagogue and the building was donated by a Remba who became a Jew by religion.
The approach of the Jews is no different from that of the British missionaries who colonised this country.
The British had the London Missionary Society (LMS) in South Africa and through British funds and LMS missionaries Robert Moffat and Rev John Moffat respectively, the British entered Botswana and colonised Zimbabwe.
Besides the missionary sentiment that the likes of Rabbi Bernis possess, the approach of the Jews also has typical non-governmental organisation (NGO) traits.
As is the case with many US-based NGOs, after receiving donations from the Jews, Remba people are somehow made to feel bad about their own Government.
In the TV show spoken of earlier, the Remba people were called forsaken by Government and estranged from modern medical treatment.
Who would not want to receive free medication, even in the US, yet they aired footage of grateful Remba people applauding them for their seeming generosity.
Many of Zimbabwe’s economic woes have been caused by illegal sanctions by the US, a nation led by American Jews.
Only through deception and cunning can our victimisers seem to be our helpers.
Before long, the Jews in Mberengwa were talking of mining tantalite and also tamoline.
They began promising the Remba that they would be first in receiving job offers with higher salaries than non-Remba people.
These rumours were rife in 2015.
Today there are mining trucks being observed in the area.
Although it has not been confirmed that it is the Jews behind it, it has been rumoured tantalite is being mined.
There is a lack of accountability and no one really knows what the whites are after, besides the Remba whom they wish to convert.
The elders are wondering how the Zimbabwean Government and intelligence forces are letting these white Americans do as they please in places as remote as Mberengwa.
Not surprisingly, the Jewish converts from the Remba community began pushing for a Lemba Cultural Organisation (LCA) to be established in Mberengwa with some of these Remba Jews comprising its leadership.
The problem with having the LCA in Zimbabwe is that the LCA of South Africa was infiltrated by Judaism and the Remba are not Jews.
Also, the Remba are Karanga and are not called Lemba as is the case in South Africa with the Venda, Xhosa and Zulu tongue.
The regime change agenda that the US has been pushing in Zimbabwe is also evident in that the Jews who want the LCA in Mberengwa are working with MDC members.
Today, one may see Remba people wearing shirts with the symbol of an elephant and the star of Judaism.
The Zhou lineage’s identity is now literally being tied to the religion of Judaism and this work of designing and printing the shirts is being done abroad.
A tree planted today, if left unhindered. will grow to its full capacity with time.