Fined for bathing in river
A Nyanga woman who took a bath in a river was fined for contaminating the water that is used for drinking and cooking downstream and ordered to make a public apology for her action.
In Nyanga’s Saunyama area, it is a punishable offence to bathe in a river and Violet Pabvu learnt it the hard way after she was caught while in her underwear in the river.
Pabvu recently appeared before Chief Saunyama’s community court, but denied that she took a bath in the river.
She claimed that she was washing her clothes.
“I was coming from the clinic with my baby who was not feeling well. The child threw up on me and I went to the river to wash my soiled clothes. I was not bathing in the river because I know that it is taboo in this area. I was not naked when I was caught. I had my skin tight and brassiere on,” she said.
However, Chief Saunyama was further infuriated by the fact that she was not only bathing, but washing off vomit in the river.
“That water is used by people downstream to cook and drink. It is unhygienic for you to wash your clothes in the river. By washing your dirty clothes in the river, you will be exposing a lot of people to waterborne diseases.
“There is a cholera outbreak and that is how it spreads. If any cholera case is recorded from this day henceforth in areas downstream from where you were doing your laundry, I will hold you responsible and you will be brought back to this court where you will be severely punished,” he said.
Chief Saunyama fined her two chickens
for the offence and Pabvu publicly apologised for her act.
Said Pabvu: “I ask for forgiveness from the community for putting your health at risk by washing my baby’s vomit in the river, which is a source of drinking water for most of you. I erred and l beg for your forgiveness. I hope my action will not affect your health,” she said.
The chief said Pabvu should have used a bucket or dish to fetch water from the river so that she could wash her dirty clothes a few metres away from the river to avoid any contamination of the water body.
Chief Saunyama urged his subjects to uphold local customs and traditions, saying some of them protect them from unforeseen
dangers like the cholera outbreak.
“It is essential to be aware of cultural norms and values when interacting with different communities. In this case, we the Saunyama people have strong beliefs surrounding river water usage and should take such matters seriously.
“We will not leave any stones unturned to bring to book all those who go against the law. By barring people from taking baths in rivers, we are protecting the community from water-borne diseases. Anyone found violating our norms and beliefs should face the consequences,” he said.
Chief Saunyama said going forward, anyone found bathing in any river in his area of jurisdiction will be fined a cow.