Marira

Marira is a village in the rural areas of Shurugwi, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, 25 km southeast of Shurugwi along the main road to Masvingo, Beit Bridge from Gweru thereby linking it with main cities of Zimbabwe and other neighbouring countries in the region notably South Africa and Botswana. Of all the rural areas in Shurugwi, this has been strategically located. The first people to stay here were settled by the white settlers from the British South Africa Company who were coming from South Africa commonly known in the local language as "Majoni" after they were forcibly removed from their lands during the 19th century. "Mujoni" was someone from Johannesburg which locally is shorterned 'Joni' just like 'muzulu' for a Zulu speaking person, 'muzambia' for someone from Zambia etc. "Majoni" when they are many.

The closest shopping centre is Cha Cha Cha Township centre. The road is in good condition, there is also a medium irrigation scheme whose main water source is from a borehole very close to Dekete. Most students go to Vungwi Primary School. The entire population of Marira follows Christianity faith. The major churches around are Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Seventh-day Adventist, ZAOGA Forward in Faith Ministries and other Pentecostal Churches.

History

The village is located on land where the families were held on standby since the land preserved for a farmer from England who never pitched up between Ian Smith's UDI and Zimbabwe's Independence. Most families are therefore closely related due to intermarriage and sharing of common ancestry.

The biggest families are those from Mahara, Marira, Haggai and Chitongo who all share one common ancestry through their clan name, Sinyoro. Other notable families are the Dovo families who are linked to the Sinyoros through their great-grand mother who was from the Marira family. The Dovos are followed by the Zvidza family also known by the Makuka tribe name. Adam Zvidza married Mathombi, a daughter of the Shadreck Dovo thereby having a direct link with the Dovos and Sinyoros. There is also a Chimusoro family, a Chimusoro sister or aunt was married by John Marira, thereby linking the Chimusoro family, the Sinyoros, the Dovos and the Zvidzas. There is also a Chananura family, actually Munenula family, originally from Malawi, one of the Munenulas married Joyce Zvidza which helped creat a link of this foreign family with the rest of the village families. The Dovos and the Chimusoros are also linked through their mothers. Other families not mentioned above include the Magadzires, who are Sinyoros hence are cousins to the other Sinyoros mentioned above which links them to the rest of the Marira families. Mhlanga - a Xangani from Chipinge in South Eastern Zimbabwe, who is commonly known as Mujubheki (one from Jahnnesburg) because the grand father once worked in Johannesburg gold mines, married Agnes Magadzire. This made him the son-in-law to the Sinyoros. Mheres, Matavires and Mahwebos all have their great grand mothers from Marira, hence they are closely related to the Dovos. One of the Mukorombindos married a sister to Mahwebo which made him an in-law to the Dovos, Matavires.

The close family links have over the years helped the families to work together through Mushandirapamwe or Humwe such as that of cultivating crops in the fields, carrying cattle manure to the fields and all other things. This makes the village a one strong and closely knit huge family.

Education

Marira was known to produce hardcore criminals at school, but during the 1980s, Solomon A.A. Manthonsi, the late headmaster of Vungwi Primary School helped to instil some disciplines at school. Like any other rural population in the country and worldwide, it is poorly educated but of late we have seen educated professionals coming out. This is to support what was once said by Nelson Mandela that only education can turn the child of a peasant farmer into a medical doctor. Of late they been medical doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, teachers, nurses coming out of this poor rural community. When you ask each of them, they have the same answer... "It is by the grace of God". Education has been the pillar of growth to these families of great note has been the Chimusoros, Dovos with the biggest number of professionals, and the rest of the families have one or two professionals per family.

Current problems

The presence of Cha Cha Cha as one of the biggest rural shopping centres in Zimbabwe came with the bad things also. Unemployment in the area is 99.999%, students finish schools but after that there is no employment thereby forcing them into criminal activities such as robbery, prostitution, HIV and AIDS, forced marriages, poverty.

The major source of income is through substance farming whereby farmers produce goods for own consumption and extra for re-sale. Like any other rural community in Zimbabwe, they suffer a great deal during the ever present Savanna drought. On average, every household has 10 head of cattle. Out of approximately 200 families with an average household of 6, there are more than 2,000 cattle in Marira, the total area is 20 square kilometres, with 80% of it a crop farming land, the community has to resort to herding cattle more 5 km from the residential places. This has caused overgrazing and erosion in the area thereby creating Dongas (Donga is another name for Cha Cha Cha Shopping Centre).

Here this where people are struggling to survive, the poor remains poor but the fortunate ones are being taken for by their working children but due to the overall meltdown of the Zimbabwe economy during the early 90s to current present, there is little to be done.

Marira Village lies on the outskirts of the Great Dyke but employment in the mining sector seem to be benefiting those from afar besides gold panning in the Mutevekwi River, a sizeable river 10 km towards Shurugwi.

There is also a market place at Cha Cha Cha Township but instead of helping families, this is where prostitutes were trained. Like another area in Zimbabwe, Marira suffered major losses through HIV and AIDS from the early 90s. Currently deaths through HIV-related sicknesses has decreased due to general awareness of the population.

Water source is from seasonal wells and streams, however there are also boreholes which provide the only drinkable water.

To help alleviate the problems stated above and improve standards of living for the populace, various groups have been formed to bring electricity and piped water to the area. The electricity project through the Zimbabwe's rural electrification project is close to completion and this will see most households with electricity in their homes. Once this project has been finalised, water project is on the pipeline. Running water will be brought to most households. As this is an agricultural driven community, families are expected to run small irrigation projects on their plots. This will go a long way in bringing food on most families' tables. Funds for these projects are raised via social media platforms especially WhatsApp and Facebook. Each household is represented on these platforms which encourages openness. One of the groups can be found here www.facebook.com/Magobo (Marira)

Activities

Soccer is the major played sport but there was never a player from Marira who ended up playing professional soccer. The reason being they are not exposed to big soccer development academies in the country and also lake of sponsorship.

Nature

There are some low-lying hills, notably Rasha Hill, Ruvure, Bokai, Magomana, Chikomo Chirefu. Other common wildlife which are occasional seen are gazelles, kudus, impalas. Leopards can also be heard at night but due to its secretive nature, it is difficult to see one during the day. In early April, the breeding season of the black mamba, you will definitely see one.

Weather

The climate is subtropical with summer in December to February and winter in May to July. There are four full seasons. The winter can be very cold with temperatures dropping to freezing point at night.