Rainmaking: Religion versus science
FOLLOWING Israel Kawanzaruwa’s claim that the recent rains in the country were a direct result of rainmaking rituals conducted by members of his clan at the sacred Nharira Hills, scientists and religious people have rubbished the assertion.
Kawanzaruwa is the eldest son of the late spirit medium Sekuru Botemupote Mushore.
The majority of the Christians interviewed by this paper attributed the wet spell to the several all-night prayers that were held throughout the country in recent weeks.
On the other hand, the Meteorological Services Department has scientific explanations for the forces behind the rainy spell.
So who or what was responsible for the rains?
Can human beings induce rains? As strange as it sounds, since time immemorial, the human race believes that it is possible for humans to somehow interfere with Mother Nature in matters to do with the rains.
However, this cannot be conclusively proven. Wikipedia defines rainmaking, which it also calls artificial precipitation, artificial rainfall or pluviculture, as the act of “attempting” to artificially induce or increase precipitation.
The commonly known scientific way of attempting to induce rain is cloud seeding. Online sources indicate that since the 1940s, cloud seeding has been used to change the structure of clouds by dispersing substances into the air, potentially increasing or altering rainfall. However, the same sources say there is no conclusive evidence to prove that cloud seeding leads to increased precipitation.
On the other hand, many communities across the globe are still actively involved in rainmaking rituals.
According to traditionalists, people living on the African continent have for centuries been using traditional indigenous knowledge systems to successfully “pray for rain”.
Traditionalists, among them Kawanzaruwa, believe that indigenous knowledge systems can predict, cause rain to fall and even redirect and control it.
Traditional rainmaking is seen as a form of magic or prayer through which human beings influence weather conditions to cause rain or drought so as to bless or curse a community.
Spirit mediums, who are the traditional rainmakers, are responsible for the rainmaking ceremonies, which are closely guarded secrets. The finer details of an actual rainmaking ritual remain a mystery that can only be unravelled by the rainmakers.
Rainmaking shrines like those at the Nharira Hills near Norton are located near gigantic and rare indigenous trees, which form a canopy which is believed to be sacred. However, Christians do not believe in traditional ways of making rain.
Pastor James Chakandinakira, leader of Jehovah Jireh International Ministries, said man was not capable of making rain.
“God created the heavens and the earth and it is Him only who can make rains. As humans, we can only pray and ask God for the rains. Those that are claiming that they are capable of making rains are being blasphemous,” Pastor Chakandinakira said.
But whilst some Zimbabweans are shunning the traditional ways of “inducing” rains, Kenyans, according to online sources, initiated a way of reviving the traditional rainmaking art through a project that uses indigenous knowledge systems for disaster prevention.
According to the sources, the programme brings the Kenya Meteorology Department and traditional rainmakers together to produce more accurate forecasts and disseminate them more widely.
In Zimbabwe’s case, rainmakers are often viewed in bad light and are regarded as backward.
Rainmaking shrines have often been dismissed as laboratories of black magic.
With climate change, Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries are being exposed to more frequent severe droughts.
Should meteorological departments start working with rainmakers, roping them in as partners in unravelling the unsolved mysteries of Mother Nature?