Leonard Ncube
Victoria Falls Reporter

MEMBERS of the Foreign Military Attaches Association (FMAA) made up of defence forces attached to Zimbabwe, paid a courtesy call on Chief Shana of Jambezi in Hwange on Saturday, to learn about local cultural practices and cement relations.

FMAA is made up of 25 member states including Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia from Africa, then China, Russia, France, United States and United Kingdom.

Mozambique is the dean of attachés deputised by Zambia.

On Saturday, Colonel Tapiwa Maburuse from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces led the delegation comprising Botswana, China, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, the UK, the US and Zimbabwe to Jambezi where they were treated to captivating traditional dances, music and food while interacting with locals.

The delegation was welcomed by a team of the chief’s advisors known as gota in the Nambya language and led to the chief’s court where Chief Shana narrated some of the Nambya cultural practices.

He also narrated how he conducts traditional court sessions.

Some of the defence attachés were accompanied by their wives and children.

The idea was to expose them to the local security and social-economic environment.

Col Maburuse said they chose Chief Shana’s chiefdom because he chairs the Matabeleland North Provincial Chief’s Council and presides over one of the unique cultures.

“We brought visitors as ZDF and we want them to learn our traditional way of life. They have seen our industry and security and now we are here so they learn the local culture,” said Col Maburuse.

“They have to know that while we are soldiers, we come from and relate to our communities. When we came here in Matabeleland North, we decided that we showcase our culture so that our visitors understand our values.

“This is important for us as security (personnel) so that we don’t forget where we came from and continue working with the community,” said Col Maburuse.

Such interactions, he said, will also have a bearing on tourism since Victoria Falls is Zimbabwe’s tourism capital and the Defence Attaches might come back with their families and be able to interact with locals during their visit.

Chief Shana, who assumed the throne in 1984, said the visit was an honour for his community.

“Today is a big day as we are visited by people from different cultures. We would want to thank the Commander Defence Forces (General Phillip Sibanda) for recognising us and I encourage my entire community to welcome our visitors with open hands because Government has given us an honour,” said Chief Shana.

Zimbabwe recognises different cultures and languages as enshrined in the constitution, said the Chief.

He added that communities on either side of Zambezi River in Zambia and Zimbabwe have many things in common as they lived as a single community before colonisation.

In his vote of thanks, Colonel Pethias Ndoka of Malawi Defence Forces said: “We have learnt how traditional courts are conducted and how the village is organised.

“The traditional activities we witnessed here were not meant to entertain us only but have a special message to us visitors and to the subjects themselves. We have learnt that no-one can come and develop a community, it’s is up to us as a community.”

Group Captain Andrew Bastable from the UK and Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Yong from the US said they were impressed by Nambya cultural practices.

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