This brilliant political satire seeks to encourage the communities to overcome the culture of fear and silence that stems from political violence.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition facilitated the performance of the play at seven different locations in Johannesburg, including at the South Africa Council of Churches headquarters, the Central Methodist Church that houses thousands of Zimbabweans who have fled political conflict and economic meltdown, Hillbrow Theatre and the township of Diepsloot.
The play, written by acclaimed playwright Stephen Chifunyise, was inspired by horrific and widespread electoral violence in Zimbabwe in 2008, which affected thousands of people, some through death, grave injuries and other human rights abuses.
The play seeks to provoke people to initiate forums of dialogue on how to begin the process of healing. According to Dewa Mavhinga, Regional Coordinator for Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, the “Rituals” play is opening new frontiers for advocacy through theatre. Paul Verryn, the Bishop of Central Methodist Church, said the play exposed the cancer of violence that has spread in our society while also giving different ways for the Zimbabwean nation to heal.
Although Zimbabwe has created a Ministry of National Healing, to the common folk there is still a great political gap to be filled between different political parties and the common folk. In the discussions held after the play, Zimbabweans identified themselves not as a people of Zimbabwe but through their political parties – which negated the theme of the play.
Furthermore, they only identify violence orchestrated by other parties, while justifying the violence from their party thereby making national reconciliation next to impossible.
Witwatersrand University provided an audience with a different view on achieving national healing in Zimbabwe. They felt that healing the nation or designing a healing mechanism for Zimbabwe for only the 2008 political violence was not enough.
They pointed out that Gukurahundi was still a disturbing factor for the Ndebele community, and only by including it could true healing and reconciliation be achieved. The play aptly expresses that citizens should not wait on politicians to begin healing – but that the power to reconcile lies with the common man.
Guzha expressed the same view when he said, "Until citizen power is entrenched in us there will not be any national healing and reconciliation".
The “Rituals” play seems to imply that healing and reconciliation can be achieved using cultural norms. According to Guzha, the people of Zimbabwe should not disregard the importance of using culture in the process of reconciliation and thereby begin healing as a society.
In partial agreement, Munjodzi Mutandiri, from the National Constitutional Assembly said the play’s overemphasis on African traditional culture as an instrument for healing overshadowed other beliefs like Christianity, which is followed by more than half of the population.
“The aim of the play is to educate people on how they can get over their excruciating political experiences,” said Guzha. The play exposes the inherent culture of violence, while offering an alternative way to peace and reconciliation.
Political violence in Zimbabwe has a historical significance which has been nurtured throughout the years by political powers and has been accepted by the people and then embraced as their political culture.
Tafadzwa Muzondo, the media officer for Rooftop Promotions, believes that, because of the fear that is associated with participating in politics, the play will encourage people to speak out against political violence – as they can draw courage from the actors who put their lives in constant danger in order to inform the people of a better way.
Mavhinga echoed the sentiments of most Zimbabweans who watched the play in hoping that since it has provoked debate around issues of violence, justice and reconciliation, positive action will follow. – By Regina Pazvakavambwa – Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional Office Media Intern
Post published in: Politics