Muchakata Tree Saving Rural Zimbabweans from Starvation | Voice of America - English
In Zimbabwe, the fruit of the Muchakata tree is saving thousands from starvation in rural areas.
In the daysof plentiful crops and economic prosperity, the Muchakata tree ? which isdotted across parts of Chihota -- was often ignored. Theevergreen tree can grow up to 10 meters in height and produces golden fruitwhich gives off a rich alluring scent detectable from a distance For a longtime the fruit was considered a staple of the poor, used in feed for donkeys.But the economic downturn and hyperinflationary environment has resulted in amajor turnaround in how the tree and its fruit are perceived. MaikoroChikwangu is over 80 years old and lives in Mhizha village. Leaning on awalking stick, the gray-haired man has to take care of his wife and grandchild.He says people wake up at the break of dawn to gather the fruit in large sacksand buckets. "There arethree wild fruit tree species that have served the people well, such as themukute, the mutamba and the muchakata. With regards to the muchakata, peoplehave now learned how to make porridge, buns and bread. You do not need to addsugar to these recipes because the fruit is naturally sweet." But52-year-old Steven Jaricha from Mutenda says the Muchakata is a protectedspecies. He warns anyone caught chopping it down is punished severely by thelocal chief. Jarichaadds some villagers have begun brewing beer or making jam, which they'reselling to townsfolk. He says many villagers spend their time crushing thefruit, "They brew beer apart from making porridge. They take those fruits andcrush them, then they will refine it into some form of mealie meal, and thenporridge." He adds theMuchakata also has spiritual value especially for Shonas, who've beenconducting rituals under the wonder tree for generations. He sayspost-marriage ceremonies and important family gatherings are marked by prayersunder the so-called wonder tree, "By the time that we grew up, our fathers usedto tell us that trees such as the muchakataare culturally important in the sense that [they are linked to] spirits. Unfortunately this has been diluted by thecoming of Christianity." 80-year-oldMargaret Kugutarinda, from Samuriwo village, says she's been amazed by locals'ingenuity. She says poverty has forced many to find creative means to survive. But shecomplains she can no longer go into the forest to gather the fruit: "It is truethat many are surviving from the muchakata, but people like me are in a big fix. I look after some aids orphans, and I can not buy anything in the shops becausethey are almost empty and money does not buy much. I am not sure whether the government still remembers thatthere are people like us who have nothing to fall back on." However,Kugutarinda, a grandmother, says she's delighted at least some are feedingtheir families.