By Kuda Pembere
Birdlife Zimbabwe has engaged faith healers registered under the Traditional Medical Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (TMPCZ) following its findings from a market survey it did that vultures or parts thereof were being used for crowd pulling, clairvoyance, to mention but these.
BirdLife Zimbabwe is an association which advocates for the protection and wellbeing of birds.
In Zimbabwe which is home to six species of vultures found across the world, they learned in a survey they did with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) that vultures were most sought by some apostolic sect leaders and self styled prophets.
With myths and misconceptiond that the bird has many mystical powers that bring forth success, precognition, retrocognition to mention but these, many faith healers are reportedly buying the parts for use in their line of work.
The market survey done unearthed that the most recurring word regarding the people who sought these vultures was that of the apostolic sect as well as self-styled prophets.
“So while asking who is coming to buy the vultures’ heads…fun fact…I think the most heard answer was the prophets and the apostolic sect. we would be told these are the people who frequent these items, those with the masowes. Those for crowd pulling who want their congregation to grow,” said BirdLife Zimbabwe Preventing Extractions Programme Assistant Officer Ms Benhilda Antonios.
She also said that they learned that some people buy even eagles under the assumption that they are vultures.
“We also asked if they knew what they were selling and some would respond that they didn’t even know but were under the assumption that if the bird’s head is huge, then it must belong to a vulture. They can even be lied to that this is a vulture’s head even if it’s an eagle’s,” Ms Antonios said.
Ms Antonios also said in the survey they were also told that those from the Parks were also culprits in the trade of vultures.
“What to do with it is unknown. We also asked who brings the vultures to them, and were told that these are just random persons who come with it and get the money,” she said.
Obtaining information during the market survey was a bit difficult for the researchers, said Ms Antonios,as some of the persons were privy to the legal statutes that protect vultures. She said that having established relations or familiarity with the market, they are looking forward to do more surveys across the country.
It was explained that contrary to belief in some sections of the society, vultures do not have clairvoyance powers but just have an aerial vision of six kilometres above ground.
The world has 23 species of vultures and out of the 23, 11 are in Africa.
A study done in 2015 on vulture deaths recorded in 26 African countries showed that of 7 819 deaths, 61 percent were attributed to poisoning, 29 percent to trade in traditional medicine, 1 percent to killing for food, and 9 percent to electrocution or collision with electrical infrastructure
“This is why we decided to engage the TMPCZ which registers traditional and faith healers,” said Mr Leeroy Moyo, BirdLife Zimbabwe Preventing Extinctions Programme Manager.
A member of the TMPCZ said they are willing to work with Birdlife Zimbabwe in the preservation of these birds.
