Published by the government of Zimbabwe
13 September 2006
Harare — THE Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers' Association (Zinatha) has accelerated its drive to weed out unethical and bogus healers out to deceive the unsuspecting public by claiming to possess curative powers over any disease and condition.
The measure has been taken to complement the Government's anti-corruption crusade and to safeguard Zinatha from being tainted and infiltrated by charlatans following the move by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to allow traditional healers to issue sick notes like conventional doctors and the replacement of the Suppression of Witchcraft Act by a new law recognising the existence of witchcraft.
Zinatha yesterday said it had embarked on a nationwide campaign to root out crooked and fake healers and this had been bolstered by the formation of anti-corruption teams at provincial level.
In an interview, Zinatha public relations officer Sekuru Friday Chisanyu said the purpose of the campaign was to buttress measures being taken by the Government in recognition of traditional cultural, medical and religious practices.
"Those people who believe in African traditional religion applaud the move taken by the Government in recognising the role of traditional healers.
"It is a fact that some people will go to traditional healers with bribes so we want to nip that in the bud," he said.
Sekuru Chisanyu said the campaign that had started in Harare would spread to other provinces in due course.
"This empowerment of traditional healers by the Government should be regarded positively rather than fuel the rampant corruption and moral decadence which pervades the minds of some among us," he said.
He said corrupt tendencies by both registered and self-styled traditional healers were detrimental to traditional religion and Zinatha leaders should complement Government efforts in purging the country of the evil.
Sekuru Tapera Dzviti, another top Zinatha official, applauded the Government for legally recognising the Traditional Medical Practitioners' Council (TMPC) that registers traditional healers and monitors and oversees their conduct.
"We have the TMPC that is responsible for the enactment of some of the rules and regulations.
"We hope the TMPC will help in the campaign to weed out bogus traditional healers who are tainting the image of Zinatha and Government efforts," he said.
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