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Mount Nyangani

Peter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
The search for the missing tourist Mr Zayd Dada has been temporarily called off to allow traditional leaders to carry out rituals to appease the spirits.
Search and rescue teams comprising friends, family, the Zimbabwe National Army and the police combed the Nyangani Mountains in the Eastern Highlands for the past two weeks and failed to locate Mr Dada.

Sources close to the search yesterday confirmed it was stopped.
“The search was stopped. Search crews and helicopters were also stopped from conducting any further search as the traditional leaders led by chiefs in the area perform rituals in a bid to locate the missing tourist,” the source said.

A family spokesperson Mrs Shehnilla Mohamed said the search was stopped after they covered 80 percent of the mountain and could not locate him.

“We were advised to stop the search and hand over the search to local chiefs and local authority.
“We had covered 80 percent of the mountain so we needed the help of local chiefs. So we have handed the search to them and we are confident that something positive will materialise,” Mrs Mohamed said.

She thanked Zimbabweans for the assistance and support.
“People have sent us prayers and messages of support and hope.

“This makes us proud to be Zimbabweans. We are grateful,” she said.
Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Mrs Caroline Washaya Moyo said the search had not been called off but was suspended to allow traditional leaders to conduct rituals.

“The family agreed with traditional leaders to proceed culturally,” she said.
Mr Dada went missing on January 4 in the sacred mountains after he went hiking with his wife and another couple.

His wife and the couple returned to their holiday chalets after getting exhausted midday through the hike but Mr Dada continued with the expedition on his own.

Since independence, three people have disappeared on the mountain believed to be sacred by locals.
Two of them were twin daughters of former Cabinet Minister Mr Tichaendepi Masaya. They went missing in 1982 and were never found.
The third was a German tourist.