THE NEXUS BETWEEN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS (IKS),SPIRITUALITY AND CULTURE IN DRR IN CHIMANIMANI DISTRICT

Abstract

Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), culture and spirituality are at the core of the Ndau people of Chimanimani district’s coping, adaptation, resilience and mitigating disasters. Traditionally, the IKS based cultural and spiritual practices were critical in providing them short term and long-term forecasting which influences their anticipatory action (AA) for early action (EA) to disasters. Apart from relying on IKS based forecasting indicators, they also perform culturally and spiritually sacred rituals with critical purposes and outcomes. Central to the rituals was appeasing them in order to evade punishments or appealing for forgiveness in wrong doings which will come in form of disasters which affects lives, livelihoods, livestock, property and the environment. However, the recurring of severe disasters which hard-hit Chimanimani lately influenced ideas reviving traditional ways of DRR management. Against this background, this study focused on interrogating the cosmological approaches which existed before and at the same time finding pathways of incorporating them in DRR roadmap in the district. The study identified diverse IKS indicators and the existing cultural and spiritual rituals like rain appealing ceremonies and related sacred practices at the core of DRR management. Successful execution of the rituals have saved them in managing disasters over generations. Unfortunately, the cultural and spiritual beliefs have suffered onslaught attacks from Christianity, climate change, increasing young traditional leadership and modern sciences which threatened its existence.  Nevertheless, IKS remain a possible option disasters management and we recommend its integration in the DRR policy consideration for inclusivity and sustainability.