By Dr Michelina Andreucci

THE name Kariba is derived from Kariva/Kariwa – meaning (fish) trap in local languages. The name refers to a rock shelf exposed at low river flow at the point of the dam wall site; now well buried under the over one million cubic metres of concrete more than 100m below the water surface. The 36,6m high wall has a thickness of over 24m to sustain the pressure of the 10 million litres per second of water passing through the spillway. Many indigenous people had opposed the building of the dam. While some had political reasons, the BaTonga people of the valley knew too well its cultural and socio-religious implications. To the BaTonga, the rock was sacred and regarded as the home of the great river deity Nyaminyami, the ruler of the waters of the Zambezi River. The embodiment of forces often identified with the life-giving outflow of springs, rivers, pools and sacred water that looked after their activities. This BaTonga primordial deity is not unlike the ancient Greek deities Oceanus and Tethys as well as the Scottish Loch Ness. It is said to have a body of a snake and the head of a fish, believed to be over three metres wide. His exact size is not known for he never fully shows himself. The people of the Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe and Zambia firmly believed they had the protection of Nyaminyami, who fed them from his own meat in times of hunger, providing the BaTonga free access to his flesh and were thus sustained. Indeed, if angered or disturbed, they believed the great River god would cause anyone who ventured nearby to be sucked in a whirlpool deep down into the depths of the river, never to be seen again. Furthermore, Nyaminyami could cause the water to boil and destroy the white man’s dam. Many believed moving would displease Nyaminyami. When finally the dam blocked the river and they were forced to move from their traditional lands, they knew for certain Nyaminyami would retaliate in anger. As the waters of the Zambezi River slowly rose to create the world’s largest artificial lake, thousands of BaTonga people were forcibly resettled on higher grounds; sweeping away their sacred shrines in its wake and destroying their homes and fertile lands. At the same time, thousands of terrified animals were about to perish as they sought refuge on islands that were shrinking and sinking under the rising waters. Impala, bushbuck, kudu, warthog, a variety of smaller antelopes, zebra, lion, cheetah, elephants and other big game, all were at the mercy of the rising tide. Angered and disturbed by the construction work and separated from his wife who was trapped on the other side of the dam wall, Nyaminyami is said to have caused major floods, destructions of equipment and loss of life during the dam’s construction. In 1957, a year after construction began, the worst floods ever known on the Zambezi lashed out. The river rose to flood level; forcing the torrent through the gorge with immense power. It washed away much of the partially built dam, destroyed heavy equipment and the access roads, killing many workers in its wake. The BaTonga were convinced that Nyaminyami retaliated for being disturbed and separated from his consort. Nyaminyami, they said, was responsible for the unprecedented floods and casualties. Could it be that he is still responsible for the difficulties and electricity shortages Zimbabwe faces today? With odds against another flood at one-thousand-to-one, it was predicted a recurrence of such floods could only happen once in 10 000 years. But the odds were wrong. In 1958, the Zambezi waters rose again, this time 30m above ground level, three metres higher than the previous year; sweeping down the Kariba Gorge at 16 million litres per second. The tempestuous rupture destroyed the access bridge, damaging the newly-built coffer dam and parts of the main wall. In this deluge 17 men were swept away by a hurtling wall of cement crashing into the dam wall. Their bodies splayed and contorted, were sealed in the wall permanently. More workers were swept away and remain missing to date. The BaTonga were convinced Nyaminyami was again responsible for the disasters and destruction that plagued the construction of the dam wall. I vividly recall my mother’s anguish, before my father came home that day. I recall too, the frantic searches for the bodies which had disappeared (mysteriously). When all attempts had failed, BaTonga elders with intimate knowledge of the river were asked to assist in the search for the missing bodies. The elders explained that since Nyaminyami caused the disasters, in order to appease his wrath, a sacrifice should be made. In desperation, as relatives were due to arrive to claim their loved ones’ bodies, a white calf was slaughtered and floated on the river. It was reported the following morning that the calf was gone. In its place, in three days, the workers’ bodies were found floating on the water. Thereafter it was the topic of discussions for months. While the disappearance of the calf was attributed to the crocodiles, no one could explain the mysterious re-appearance of the workers’ bodies. The BaTonga elders and spirit mediums were again consulted. Ceremonies were conducted and a white bull was offered to placate and persuade Nyaminyami to control the Zambezi River and allow the construction of the dam wall to continue. The dam had separated Nyaminyami from his wife. In anger and despair, Nyaminyami withdrew from the world. Today, minor earth tremors are occasionally felt in and around Kariba. The BaTonga say it is the wrath of Nyaminyami smashing his tail trying to reach his wife on the other side of the dam wall. Although there has been no officially recorded sighting of the river deity, the people still pledge their allegiance to him by performing ceremonial dances and rituals, especially during times of drought. In BaTonga legend, it is said wherever there is water, the people find prosperity. They continue to live and fish on the shores of Lake Kariba, in Binga. Many still believe that one day Nyaminyami will fulfill his promise and destroy the dam wall so he can reunite with his wife and they will be able to return to their homes on the banks of the mighty Mulonga once more. Could this be his time — a decade and a half into the new millennium? Dr Michelina Rudo Andreucci is a Zimbabwean-Italian Researcher, Industrial Design Consultant and Specialist Interior Decorator. She is a published author.