The Tshangaan community — pioneers of circumcision in Zimbabwe — has been peeved by criticism of their tradition by some sections of society, following recent reports questioning the effectiveness of the exercise hailed by some medical experts.
Report by Tatenda Chitagu In an interview held at a circumcision workshop organised by the Family Aids Caring Trust (FACT) in Chiredzi last Friday, Chiefs Chilonga (born Guvele Chilonga) and Chief Tshovani (Felix Mundau) accused the media of misleading the nation.
Some media reports suggested that HIV prevalence was actually higher in men who went under the knife, apparently implying that those who were circumcised “were fooled”.
But Chief Tshovani said he took the criticism as an attack on their culture. “We were practicing our culture long back and we know how effective it is. To some of us, it’s a whole way of life. That is why we did not like the media in our camps. Now people are questioning our practice. Only cowards will do that,” he said.
Chief Chilonga concurred with his counterpart.
Other media reports suggested men who went under the knife also wanted to know where their foreskins ended up.
“That is very stupid of someone to ask where my foreskin goes. I am very surprised with that. So do you ask the barber where your hair goes after having a haircut? Who will keep those foreskins? We do not even want them. It is our culture and we grew up in circumcision. If government saw it useful and good, who then are you to question it?” Tshovani queried.
While conceding that circumcision played a huge role in the fight against HIV and Aids, FACT Chiredzi executive director Ropafadzo Magwaza urged men to remain cautious.
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“We do not encourage complacency. Those that went under the knife should adhere to condom use. Being circumcised is not protection for life. All the same, we encourage circumcision,” she said.
