Memoirs of an Unsung Legend, Nemeso

Chapter Seven. Mutindi’s creative genius

33 Chapter Seven Mutindi’s creative genius hen Mhepo disappeared from Chief Pfupajena’s court, the midwives were accused of facilitating the disappearance. They were only spared from severe sanctioning because the most senior midwife was Chief Pfupajena’s grandmother who according to custom was one of the few people highly regarded by the chief. A manhunt for Mhepo and her son was immediately launched. Given that he was considered a curse to the whole Duma chiefdom,Mhepo’s son was clearly on the death roll. The story of Mhepo and her son’s disappearance spread like fire on a dry prairie. Pfupajena’s advisers were summoned and sent to search for Mhepo and her son. Some were sent to Musikavanhu to find out if Mhepo had not escaped to her parents’ home, but all was in vain. She was nowhere to be found. Word had also spread about the birth of Mhepo’s deformed baby. Some joined the search for Mhepo and her son out of curiosity to see the first baby of its kind – a baby with four eyes. Others were baying for the blood of both Mhepo and her son. How could someone protect the life of a curse on the land? After several days of searching for Mhepo and her son, the chief came to the conclusion that they might have been eaten by predators when they fled his chiefdom. Some thought that Mhepo and her son had been destroyed by ancestral spirits who were angry with both. Many theories, thus, were advanced about the disappearance of Mhepo and W 34 her son, but nobody really knew what had happened to the two. Mutindi kept a very cool head and watched people searching everywhere for Mhepo and her son but did not disclose to anyone what had actually happened. He, like anyone close to Pfupajena, masqueraded as someone greatly troubled at heart by Mhepo’s action. He recalled his dream. It was time to act because it had been a while since his daughter-in-law had hidden in the cave. Early one morning he woke up and sharpened his axe and spear and took his bow and arrows. He took some oil and maize meal. He told his senior wife he was going to Nhema’s area in the west, the area called Zaka today, to scout for virgin land for growing crops. Mutindi promised to come back after three days. Mutindi first went towards the west and then turned to the east where Mhepo had escaped. He walked slowly because he was now old but became more energized as his journey progressed. By sunset he was approaching Rumedzo mountain. He climbed the mountain and settled at an open space and gathered firewood for making a bonfire to scare away animals. Mutindi also thought of looking for a vantage point where he could spot where there was fire, and then he would know that would be the place where Mhepo was, as the mountain was surrounded by uninhabited forests. After a while, he heard a sound and saw an animal and shot it with his bow and arrow. He tried to trail it but it was already dark. He could hardly see, and so he gave up. Mutindi then followed a trail used by baboons and after walking for a short distance, he saw a fire. At first he thought the fire had been made by hunters who might be exploring the fortunes of the forests. 35 When he arrived at the place where there was fire, Mutindi discovered Mhepo busy breastfeeding her son. He stepped on dry leaves, and this alerted Mhepo of his approach. Mhepo was filled with happiness when she saw her father-in-law. She wanted to leap and hug him, but traditionally it was taboo for a daughter-in-law to make contact with her father-in-law. Mutindi undertook greeting rituals before going into the cave. ‘Ehe-e tasvikawo kwenyu kuno Moyo chirandu chegono Mushayachirashwa Mukaka tinomwa Mafuta tichizora Nyama tinodya Dowo tichikakisa ngoma Ndove tinodzurisa Muswe tichifumhisa Nyanga tichiita gonamombe Vari Dikitikiti Nevari Ushava Mambiru Tinotenda ndimi matitungamirira Makatungamirazve muroora nejecherenyu Ndivava vatadai kufambira Kuti tivamutsire nokuona kana muchivariritira Ehe-e tazviona munavo Namangwana musanyara Ngazvirambe zvakadaro gono redu Musatisiya toga tinotya’ 36 Ndatenda Chirandu Zvaonekwa Moyo Zvaonekwa Gono! After the greeting rituals, when Mutindi entered the cave, he sat on a rock. His daughter-in...