Zimpapers Logo

Sydney Kawadza Senior : Features Writer

His nickname alone arouses curiosity. Villagers call him “Jehovah”, making Syachingili Mweembe a popular old man in the Nenyunka area of Gokwe-Kabuyani, in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province. He boasts of a rich history associated with his area and a darling to many. Unfortunately, while living in that history, Mweembe is also stuck with trillions of the demonetised Zimbabwe currency notes and coins of the past era.In his collection, stashed in a sack and plastic bags, are bearer’s cheques, old notes dating as far back as the 1980s.

The coins include loads of the 1c, 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c.

You can also find the $1 and $5 coins and the odd $10 trillion bearer cheque.

Mweembe is loaded with currency notes that reflect the tumultuous era Zimbabwe went through as it battled an array of sanctions induced challenges.

A few hours with “Jehovah” under a Mopane tree shade in the sweltering heat of the dry area is quite insightful.

The old man gladly shares his misfortune including his life story.

As the cicadas shrill, the birds chirp in the forests, Mweembe narrates a tale that is both captivating and equally unbelievable to ear.

The shock comes as he confidently unveils his savings, all in the Zimbabwean dollar currency.

“I had been saving my money in three banks while I also kept some at home, including the notes. I never realised that the money would lose value like what happened,” he said sorrowfully.

It also did not occur to him that Government compensated all the people who returned suspended notes and coins.

“I am not sure if it is because of ESAP (Economic Structural Adjustment Programme introduced in the early 1990s) but I really don’t know what to do with all this money,” he said.

Mweembe could have missed news that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had discarded the local currency after years of hyperinflation.

Government in 2009 introduced the multi-currency regime that saw Zimbabweans using the United States dollars, South African rand and the Botswana pula among other foreign currency.

In June last year, Zimbabweans were allowed to exchange “quadrillions” of local dollars for US dollars after migrating to foreign currencies including the US dollar and South African rand in 2009.

Those who held Zimbabwean dollar accounts before March 2009 could approach their banks to convert their balance into US dollars.

The exchange lasted from June to September leaving Mweembe stuck with his “savings”.

The old man is not only stuck with the notes and coins at his house, his bank accounts at Barclays, CABS and Agribank are virtually “loaded”.

His bank balance from the CABS account that was last withdrawn on November 27, 1997 has ZW$1 980 after he withdrew $72.

“We rarely get any information on what is taking place around the country and maybe one day we will be able to use the money again,” he said.

Old man Mweembe is also a serious saver and investor.

At the moment he has a herd of 19 cattle, several goats, sheep and poultry.

But the possessions are under threat from drought that has ravaged his area.

“I am worried because of this drought. The rains were scarce this season and we are forced to sell our livestock for nothing to get food. I am not happy with the people who come to us with maize,” he said.

Mweembe’s disillusionment with the unscrupulous maize dealers in his area is justified.

Word has it that the maize dealers exchange two five-litre containers of maize for a goat and eight buckets for a cow or bull.

“I have lost most of my cattle and goats for maize. In fact, I have not yet received my maize from a dealer who promised me the buckets after he took one of my beasts,” said the dejected man.

He reminisces sorrowfully of the old days which shaped his life.

Mweembe did not get a chance to go to school so he does not read or write albeit speaking fluent English from his journey across Zimbabwe and Zambia working in various jobs.

“My journey into Zimbabwe started a long time ago when a group of men from here walked to Bulawayo in search of employment. There were six of us and we walked for more than a month until we reached Bulawayo,” he said.

Mweembe vividly remembers how each of them carried a pouch of maize meal for the journey.

“We made the pouch from the barks of the baobab tree and we carried millet for cooking during the journey. We would meet many wild animals along the way but they could not harm us because we were prepared for any eventuality,” he said.

Mweembe recalls how they were protected by potions against the wild animals that they would not be harmed during the night.

The journey from Gokwe to Bulawayo is approximately 270 kilometres.

“On the way we would survive on fruits, meat and honey, lots and lots of honey. So we would trap animals for food while camping for days along the way to rest,” he said.

The affable old man laments how life has changed.

“This whole area was a dense bush but we survived. I remember when I was still very young lions would visit during the night from the mountains trying to break into our pole and dagga huts to eat us but we survived.

“No-one was eaten by the lions but many were attacked by hyenas,” he said.

Aside from the naturally found food they would eat fish from the Semwa River.

“We rarely experienced the droughts and did not depend much on agriculture. The little food grown was millet and sorghum which do not need too much water,” he said.

He added: “I have seen women digging up roots like we used to do but I think now it’s because of the drought that has ravaged our area. However, our traditional and original Tonga way of living has been destroyed.”

The old man is from an era when people wore animal skins, especially the one made from leopard skin, to cover their essentials.

“We used to sleep without blankets while fire was made the traditional way. I can still build a fire the way we used to that time,” he said.

The modern medicines, he argues, are contributing to the ill health in Zimbabwe.

“We had traditional medicine that was so strong that even if one has been bitten by a crocodile we would know how to treat the wound. All the trees we have here can be used for medicinal purposes but what is lacking is the knowledge on how to prepare it.”

The Tonga elder is well travelled and claims to be well known across Zimbabwe.

“I think even President Mugabe knows me because I have been all over. When I went to Bulawayo I worked on the farms and later in Government departments such as roads and rails.

“I was also there when we built the road to Musengezi and the one to Murombedzi which passes through the President’s home area,” he chuckled.

His journey accumulating “wealth” also led him to Hwange, Harare and as far as Zambia.

And what of the name Jehovah?

“We are a good family that any visitor we accommodate here gets the best of our services. Anyone who needs food can come here; we can offer you a place to sleep while taking good care of you.

“With us you can swim like a fish, a fish swimming in the water. You will be one of us. I do not segregate against anyone and I guess that love for people has seen them christen me Jehovah.”

Mweembe still lives with his wife Joinah.

The couple had 13 children and five are still alive while the rest are late.

The old man still hopes that one day all life’s challenges will be overcome while he gets an opportunity to use his “money” safely stored in his bank accounts and at home.

Feedback: [email protected]