Muti Wenhamo, where hope and despair co-exist

Oscar J Jeke

You want to get to Muti Wenhamo? It's not on any Google map, but you can find it easily.

Take any high density suburb in the country. Find the busiest shopping and service centre. You see the big tree under whose shade you will find a number of mostly young males drinking and smoking, so early in the day? You have arrived at your destination.

With unemployment rates of over 70 percent, many young people struggling to find a line of revenue end up at Muti Wenhamo in their hood.

Tertiary institution graduates and school dropouts gather to find something to do while waiting for doors to open or lament their fate.

Bla Fidza, born and raised in Bindura and a regular member of the Muti weNhamo club, says the motley crew that gravitates to the tree is full of ideas, love, peace and togetherness, with members all looking out for each other.

“Muti weNhamo is at Chipadze shops. It is a place I have known for years. Even before I was born, there were people before us who found common ground at that big tree. We buy our beer and drink together, even when I don’t have money, I will always go back home drunk and that is how the days go by. My brothers will not let me dry,” an emotional Bla Fidza told this writer.

He said the name Muti Wenhamo comes from the fact that most of the people who gather there are unemployed.

Another club member said while there are some who personify drags of the society, many gather under the tree because it is an informal job centre.

Those looking for contract workers for any sort of menial labour will head for Muti Wenhamo knowing that there is always a willing pair of hands.

“It is sad how people in the community look at us as examples of failure. Ironically, when they need people to help at funerals they call us, when they need manpower they come to us. Of course, due to troubles faced in life and at home, some of our friends turn to drinking “tumbwa” (illegal spirit brews) because they cannot afford other types of alcohol. We do not encourage them to do that,” said Edmore, simply known as Eddy in Chipadze.

Eddy said some people have realised that some of the men just want alcohol and so will offer cheap spirits rather than cash in exchange for labour.

At Matongo Shopping Centre in Mabvuku Muti Wenhamo is a place where a regular crowd gathers to discuss politics, sport and plan activities such as pool tournaments and social football league games.

Diva, born and bred in Mabvuku, spoke highly of the place, saying it is defined by African Ubuntu, and therefore everyone feels at home.

Diva said the unity that prevails even working together at funerals is a norm and key value of the club.

“KuMuti Wenhamo tinobatirana, handirari nenzara kana kushaya chekumwa vakomana varipo.- (We help each other and I will never go to bed hungry or go without a drink when the crew is around).”

“People in the community come to Muti weNhamo to look for piece job workers and we do anything and everything,” Didymus, told Zim Now.

Mai Tino, a mother of two who has lived in Mabvuku for over 15 said that while people at the Muti weNhamo are looked down upon as loafers and drunkards many of them are in fact breadwinners looking after their families through ad hoc jobs.

“I have on many times called them to do some work at my house, one time they helped with manpower for my son’s graduation party. They are not dead end drunkards but useful and relevant members of this community,” Mai Tino said.

Muti weNhamo has for years been used as a place where people of the community come to discuss and spend time together and the tradition is bound to go on for generations to come.

It accommodates every member of the community as there are no specifications on requirements or work to join. Unemployed graduates and school dropouts gossip and exchange information on any just about anything.

A few formally employed even join in after work or at weekends to form the upper hierarchy or “varungu”, the bosses.

The Matongo Muti Wenhamo Club has evolved into an organised association with a treasurer and a chairman.

The treasurer is in charge of the common purse while the chairman negotiates with the contractors who have jobs to be done.

Prior to August 2023 general election, youths in Mabvuku mobilised each other to register to vote while gathered under Muti Wenhamo.