By Own Correspondent| Popular traditional healer, Sekuru Banda has called on government to consider indigenous knowledge systems as part of national efforts to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Zimbabwe is currently battling to contain the outbreak which has so far claimed its first victim in prominent presenter Zororo Makamba.
As part of efforts to contain the disease, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a number of measures including the closure of borders, public spaces such as beerhalls, gymnasiums and sports facilities and banning public gatherings of more than 50 people among others.
Speaking at the indigenous knowledge management conference held in Harare yesterday, Sekuru Banda emphasised on the need to work together to create knowledge base around coronavirus.
“If we work together and create a knowledge base around these issues, we can go a long way in fighting this pandemic and others to come. It is my mandate as a traditional healer to sensitise and inspire others to join in the fight against viral pandemics that threaten our being and becoming as humanity. Thus it is fundamental to embrace indigenous knowledge systems in fighting pandemics,” Sekuru Banda added.
Sekuru Banda said it has been scientifically proven that the disease originated from animals before it moved to humans.
“It is widely believed that the disease originated from Wuhan province of China where they have wet markets. In this province, Chinese stock animals from different parts of the world. These animals would have been illegally imported. From statistics, China was operating 28 000 wet markets across the country.
“The conditions in these wet markets are squalid for animal habitation. The firs SARS virus of 2003 originated from these wet markets and so did this coronavirus. Animal rights advocates refer to coronavirus as the pangolin’s revenge,” Sekuru Banda said.
The pangolin is the most widely, illegally trafficked wild animal. According to Ukrainian philosopher, Slavojzizek, the 2003 SARS virus can be traced to the Chinese wet markets.
Sekuru Banda said if an animal is kept under captivity, its immune system deteriorates; thereby creating a breeding ground for different viruses to thrive within its body.
He cited the fact that wild bats ended up infecting pangolins in the Chinese wet markets hence the birth of coronavirus.
“What was meant for the jungle must remain in the jungle. Coronavirus has given us an important lesson that we should be responsible in our pursuit of profits. The bundling of different species in one area is not only a Chinese problem. It is regrettable that here in Africa people co-habit with wild animals.
“In Zimbabwe other people keep broilers, qualia birds, rabbits or guinea fowl in their houses, In the process, they end up acquiring severe respiratory diseases from these animals. That’s why we have experienced bird and swine flu,” Sekuru Banda said.
He said the failure to respect the law of nature is a problem that they as traditional leaders have observed.
“As traditional healers, we urge relevant authorities to take appropriate measures to curb such illicit activities. There is need to sensitise people on the root causes of coronavirus so that as a society we debunk conspiracy theories and take responsibility for the problems haunting us.”