BY SAMUEL NJINGA IN MWENEZI
Farmers in the Mwenezi District, particularly in the areas of Chief Neshuro and Chief Maranda, are raising the alarm over a severe infestation of Fall Army Worms that are wreaking havoc on their crops. The pests, believed to be a special type of Army Worm called “Mhondoro,” have become resistant to most pesticides, leading to massive crop losses and financial strain for local farmers.
“Mhondoro,” so named for its supposed supernatural resilience—has baffled farmers who claim that even advanced chemical treatments no longer seem effective in controlling the outbreak. According to these farmers, the worms exhibit unusual resistance to pesticides that have traditionally worked against other pests, making it increasingly difficult to protect maize, millet, and other crops.
“The pesticides we used before are no longer working. The worms are eating our crops, and we are at our wit’s end,” said one frustrated farmer from Chief Neshuro’s area, David Chipuriso. “This special breed of Army Worm is unlike any we’ve encountered before. It just won’t die.”
Farmers have turned to their traditional belief systems in a bid to combat the resilient pest. Many locals believe that “Mhondoro” is no ordinary creature, and some are convinced it can only be subdued through ritual means. According to these beliefs, traditional Chiefs, who hold cultural authority in the area, can summon spiritual power to force the Army Worm to retreat.
In Chief Neshuro and Chief Maranda’s communities, it is widely believed that if the Chiefs rebuke the Mhondoro through a combination of ritualistic chants and spiritual gestures, the pest could be forced to “bow down” and stop its destruction. This deeply rooted tradition, which blends ancestral beliefs with agricultural practices, is still practiced in many parts of rural Zimbabwe.
Some farmers also turn to older women, specifically those who have passed menopause, and young girls who are yet to go through menopause, whose bathed water is thought to have special spiritual protection from the pests. “It is believed that bathed water from women who are no longer menstruating, as well as young girls` can perform a ritual to deter the worms. These women`s bathed waters are believed to possess a unique connection to the spiritual world, and it is thought that its unique powers can prevent the worms from attacking the crops,” explained Sikhululekile Moyo who is another farmer from the area.
This method, however, is met with mixed reactions. While many in the community swear by the efficacy of these spiritual practices, others are skeptical. Some believe that traditional methods may offer temporary relief, but the real solution lies in science and agriculture.
As the infestation continues to spread across the district, the situation is becoming dire. Farmers are increasingly worried about their livelihoods, with some fearing that the crops may be completely destroyed before they have a chance to harvest. The economic toll on families in this drought-prone region is mounting, with food security and income for many households under serious threat.
Government agencies and agricultural experts are also investigating the situation. While they acknowledge the resilience of the Mhondoro variety of Fall Army Worm, they continue to urge farmers to rely on scientific solutions like genetically modified crops and alternative pest control methods, including the use of bio-pesticides and integrated pest management systems.
For now, farmers are caught between two worlds—scientific agriculture and traditional spiritual practices as they face an uncertain future. With no immediate solution in sight, many are hoping that the situation will soon be addressed, whether through innovation or ancestral intervention.
“Only time will tell if the rituals will work or if science will save us,” said one concerned farmer. “But we cannot afford to wait too long.”
As the Mhondoro Army Worm continues its relentless assault on Mwenezi’s farmlands, the question remains: will tradition or modernity ultimately prevail in the battle to save the crops?