There was chaos in Harare’s Josiah Tongogara Avenue this afternoon, December 7, 2011, after the legendary tree on which the Zimbabwean spirit medium, Mbuya Nehanda, is said to have been hanged, was knocked over by a truck.
^ The 'Mbuya Nehanda' tree knocked down, December 7, 2011.
A construction worker, working on the resurfacing of the road, backed into the tree by mistake, resulting in its trunk snapping about 60cm from its base and toppling over.
Apparently not realising the significance of the tree, one of the other workmen thought oops, we knocked a tree down, got a chain saw and started ripping away at the tree to clear the road so that traffic could flow. He had almost gone through the whole branch when someone frantically yelled that they had knocked down ‘Nehanda’s tree’.
They were advised to back off and call the National Parks & Wildlife Authority or the Ministry of Home Affairs as the tree was a ‘protected national monument’.
For hours, work stopped as the team of workmen stood there looking really worried. Early this evening the tree had still not been removed causing traffic mayhem.
^ The tree totally blocked off one lane of Josiah Tongogara Avenue.
Immediately after it fell word spread and Zimbo Jam got a text from someone in Bulawayo saying they had heard that the ‘Nehanda tree’ was down. Rumours also started spreading that the tree had been struck by lightning. Just so you know- there was no rain in Harare today.
The tree was conspicuous as it stood alone in the middle of the road, close to the intersection of Josiah Tongogara Avenue and Sam Nujoma (formerly Second) Street and was the cause of much curiosity over the years as people wondered why it had been spared when the roads were constructed.
In 1896 Rhodesian settlers hanged Mbuya Nehanda. The hanging is believed to have come after the imposition of a "hut tax" and other tax assessments in 1894, at which both the Ndebele and Shona people revolted in June 1896, in what became known as the First Chimurenga or Second Matabele War. The Mashonaland part of the rebellion was encouraged by traditional religious leaders, chief among them Nehanda.
^ Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi in Custody. Circa 1896.
She, along with her spiritual husband Sekuru Kaguvi, were both charged with murder, Kaguvi for the death of an African policeman, and Nehanda for the death of the Native Commissioner and thus sentenced to death by hanging.
It is believed two unsuccessful attempts were made to hang Nehanda and an African prisoner who was present at her hanging is reported to have suggested that the hangman remove the tobacco pouch which from her belt in order for her to die.
Nehanda's dying words are said to have been, "My bones will rise again."
Just a few weeks ago a conversation sprouted on social media platforms with people asking if it was true that it was not allowed to take photos of the Nehanda tree.
From Zimbo Jam (Bio info: Wikipedia) by Anozivashe Shumba
^ The 'Mbuya Nehanda' tree knocked down, December 7, 2011.
A construction worker, working on the resurfacing of the road, backed into the tree by mistake, resulting in its trunk snapping about 60cm from its base and toppling over.
Apparently not realising the significance of the tree, one of the other workmen thought oops, we knocked a tree down, got a chain saw and started ripping away at the tree to clear the road so that traffic could flow. He had almost gone through the whole branch when someone frantically yelled that they had knocked down ‘Nehanda’s tree’.
They were advised to back off and call the National Parks & Wildlife Authority or the Ministry of Home Affairs as the tree was a ‘protected national monument’.
For hours, work stopped as the team of workmen stood there looking really worried. Early this evening the tree had still not been removed causing traffic mayhem.
^ The tree totally blocked off one lane of Josiah Tongogara Avenue.
Immediately after it fell word spread and Zimbo Jam got a text from someone in Bulawayo saying they had heard that the ‘Nehanda tree’ was down. Rumours also started spreading that the tree had been struck by lightning. Just so you know- there was no rain in Harare today.
The tree was conspicuous as it stood alone in the middle of the road, close to the intersection of Josiah Tongogara Avenue and Sam Nujoma (formerly Second) Street and was the cause of much curiosity over the years as people wondered why it had been spared when the roads were constructed.
In 1896 Rhodesian settlers hanged Mbuya Nehanda. The hanging is believed to have come after the imposition of a "hut tax" and other tax assessments in 1894, at which both the Ndebele and Shona people revolted in June 1896, in what became known as the First Chimurenga or Second Matabele War. The Mashonaland part of the rebellion was encouraged by traditional religious leaders, chief among them Nehanda.
^ Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi in Custody. Circa 1896.
She, along with her spiritual husband Sekuru Kaguvi, were both charged with murder, Kaguvi for the death of an African policeman, and Nehanda for the death of the Native Commissioner and thus sentenced to death by hanging.
It is believed two unsuccessful attempts were made to hang Nehanda and an African prisoner who was present at her hanging is reported to have suggested that the hangman remove the tobacco pouch which from her belt in order for her to die.
Nehanda's dying words are said to have been, "My bones will rise again."
Just a few weeks ago a conversation sprouted on social media platforms with people asking if it was true that it was not allowed to take photos of the Nehanda tree.
From Zimbo Jam (Bio info: Wikipedia) by Anozivashe Shumba
No comments:
Post a Comment