By Johannes Mike Mupisa aka Chana CheMasvingo
Chishanya pool, located a short distance from Neshuro Growth Point in Mwenezi, transcends the mere designation of a typical body of water, harbouring a profound spiritual significance for the discerning observer.
While skeptics initially regarded the pool as mundane, this year’s drought has unveiled its mystical essence to many.
Numerous cynics had previously disregarded the pool’s enigmatic folklore, such as the tale of a bus vanishing into its depths never to resurface. Some conjecture that Chishanya is inhabited by aquatic beings, including mermaids and mermen.
A series of perplexing incidents have taken place at the pool, including the tragic demise of three individuals en route to a funeral. Their vehicle, unable to ascend, tragically rolled backward into the pool. Similarly, in 1988, a Guiding Star student lost their life in a similar fashion after leaping from a lorry as it reversed uncontrollably.
In a recent occurrence, a ZUPCO bus experienced technical difficulties preventing its ascent. After instructing all passengers to disembark, save for one obstinate individual, the driver alighted to inspect the vehicle.
As he stood outside, the bus careened down the incline, narrowly avoiding submersion in the pool. Furthermore, an elderly woman from the vicinity was reportedly attacked by a crocodile under mysterious circumstances, with suspicions of involvement by the elusive merfolk.
Despite the anticipation of its depletion, the pool continues to replenish itself, with its waters appearing clearer each morning and showing signs of expansion. While concrete evidence remains elusive, local lore suggests the presence of a profound cavern extending approximately 100 meters beneath the pool’s surface.
In an attempt to verify this claim, a group of intrepid young locals, led by Chopper, Owen Mapisa, and Shonhayi, made a daring wager. Venturing across the pool, one of them ventured to its deepest point, where the 1.7-meter-tall Shonhayi found the water level reaching his waist. However, the venerable Mr. Vambire cautioned against such recklessness, emphasizing the sanctity of the pool and its perpetual nature. He admonished the youth, asserting, “This sacred reservoir has endured through the ages and shall continue to do so. It is not a playground for the heedless; they ought to steer clear of its depths.”
While nocturnal revelers have occasionally reported sightings of apparitions and other spectral entities, these accounts have routinely been dismissed as mere figments of imagination. Undoubtedly, Chishanya pool has withstood the vicissitudes of time, shrouded in an aura of mystery and reverence.
