THE echoes of a chopping axe are heard from across Mhare River, in rural Hwedza, Mashonaland East province.
After some minutes, the thudding sound of a falling giant tree follows.
This time, it is not a tobacco farmer chopping firewood in preparation for the next tobacco curing process.
A giant mumvee tree, also known as the sausage tree, due to its elongated fruits, is being debarked.
As if that is not enough, its fruits are plucked and neatly stashed in a scotchcart.
They are ready for processing.
“I have a ready market in Harare. Some people come here to buy dried bark or its powder for resale as it has proved to be a medicine,” says 38-year-old Romeo Chisunga, who hails from Hwedza South constituency.
The discovery of mumvee’s (scientifically known as Kigelia Africana) medicinal prowess has hit Zimbabwe by storm, resulting in rural folks cashing in on the rare tree species.
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“We chop the sausages and dry them before processing them into powder,” Chisunga said.
“A sack of dried barks goes for US$20, while a bucket of powdered mumvee fruit goes for US$40.”
A survey in most areas in Hwedza revealed that a number of people are already into the business.
On several rooftops were heaps of mumvee barks and fruits left to dry before being processed.
“It is a good medicinal herb. It cures everything from diabetes to cancer,” said Marondera-based herbalist Kurauone Shonhai (65).
Shonhai could not, however, say if his claims were scientifically proven.
“We grew up consuming mumvee concoctions treating different ailments, it works,” Shonhai said.
According to the internet, the mumvee tree, which is native to southern Africa, has traditionally been used in folk medicine for various purposes, including treating ailments such as fever, rheumatism and skin conditions.
However, its popularity has skyrocketed in recent times, with many Zimbabweans seeking it out for its purported health benefits, including treating chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes as well as HIV and Aids.
Some believe it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The craze has led to the harvesting of the plant, with many farmers and traders cashing in on its high demand.
However, there are concerns about the sustainability of the plant’s harvesting, as well as lack of scientific evidence supporting some of its purported health benefits.
A survey at vegetable markets in Marondera and Harare revealed that a small bottle or sachet of powdered mumvee tree elements is being sold for US$1.
“The medicine sells fast. It is on demand. The market is big,” said Maria Nhiwatiwa, who sells herbs at Marondera’s Dombotombo market.
A herbalist in Murewa, Thompson Mutasa, affectionately known as Sekuru Shumba, said the mumvee tree plant has a lot of medicinal purposes including improving libido for men.
“It is not a secret that both men and women use the mumvee tree fruit for sex enhancing purposes. The tree is special in the history of medicine. Some perform rituals under it,” he said.
Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said the use of herbs was rampant in Zimbabwe.
“Most of our herbal medicines are locally sourced and readily available, 100% organic and non-toxic. The challenge is and has always been the gap in communicating the dosage schedule, indication for treatment,” Rusike said.
“There is no accreditation or regulation of the practitioners, their practice nor premises as is done for medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other therapists trained in conventional medicine.
“We also additionally have a lack of clinical trials, scientific data and evidence to support the claims despite some convincing results from treated individuals.”
Meanwhile, the rush for mumvee tree is worrying environmentalists, who fear that it may soon become extinct if authorities fail to come up with strategies to conserve it.
Harare-based environmentalist Pelagia Kanyandura said: “Relevant authorities should come up with strategies if there are no policies to stop the rampant cutting down of the tree. As it stands, the species is being destroyed willy-nilly and will soon face extinction.”
In Zimbabwe, mumvee trees are concentrated in hot and dry regions.
During the 1992 drought, the giant tree survived extinction as farmers cut them down to feed their livestock with their leaves and fruits.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Mashonaland East provincial information and publicity manager Astas Mabwe said locals should practise sustainable forest resource harvesting.
“As EMA, we encourage sustainable environmental management which include sustainable forest resource harvesting, locals should use best harvesting methods to save the species,” Mabwe said.
For Chisunga, sustainable harvesting of mumvee fruits and barks is another story.
Today, he moves from one area to the other looking for the medicine that is bringing fortunes to him.
