Cuthbert Mashoko
Use of donkeys as a means of transport and draught power in the dry Mwenezi District has stood the test of time.
Since time immemorial donkeys have been in use in this part of the world to link people from one point to the other.
It is interesting to note that the practice, continues to be fashionable even in the twenty-first century.
Mwenezi District which falls under Natural Ecological Region 5, is characterized by little rainfall and hot temperatures. The ability of the donkey to withstand these temperatures has seen it being the preferred friend of man.
Donkey drawn carts are a common feature in this southern part of Zimbabwe as they facilitate the daily routine of villagers.
In a region where water points and service providers are generally a distance apart, coupled by poor road network , donkey drawn carts have lessened the burden on the residents of Mwenezi as they have managed to navigate their terrain at easy.
With an El-Nino induced drought now a reality, one thing is certain, the tried and tested tenacity of the donkey is going to make a difference to many families.
Distant water points, pastures drying up, food scarcity, all these challenges at villagers’ disposal, it is the donkey which will pay half the price.
Donkeys are unique when it comes to endurance, this has been their chief attribute which has been of benefit to humanity from the Middle East to Central Asia and the better part of the Saharan Desert.
Donkeys on carts can gallop for more than 20km on the bounce. This has made the donkey drawn carts sweet chariots, which have enabled villagers to bring water home from distance water sources and also linking them with important service providers, as evidenced by hordes of donkey drawn carts parked at clinics, grinding mills and flea markets.
While the donkey had been a savior to many, it is disheartening to note how in some cases the animal had been subjected to ill-treatment. This calls for programs which educate the villagers on ways on taking care of this rare species. Donkeys in other communities, like in Botswana, Ghana and Ethiopia are more valued as they make life easier in arid communities.
With climate change now a reality, the donkey’s adaptivity to harsh conditions is poised to make a huge difference to humanity.
Commercialization of donkeys is on the rise with the high demand for ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey skins .
Ejiao is considered one of the most valuable products within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is a commonly used health tonic medicine. Demand of donkey, just like camel milk is also on the rise as it is used for manufacturing high quality cosmetics.
It is against this background that with due necessary procedures farmers in Mwenezi apart from using donkeys as a means of transport and draught power, can also exploit the unique benefits from donkey farming stated above.
