The Sunday News
Mollet Ndebele and Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Reporters
HUNDREDS of people have besieged Mophani area along the Bulawayo-Solusi Road on the outskirts of the city to harvest edible mopane worms commonly known as amacimbi.
The amacimbi were discovered last week by villagers from Danstaal area in Umguza District.
Residents from Pumula South, Old Pumula, Pumula North and Nkulumane have rushed to the area to harvest the delicacy.
In Zimbabwe, amacimbi rush is mostly experienced in Matabeleland South districts such as Gwanda, Beitbridge, Matobo and Mangwe, a development that in the past has seen people from as far as Mutare flocking to the province to pick up the delicacy.
A Sunday News crew visited the Mophani area on Friday last week and witnessed scores of people, a majority of them women and children, harvesting amacimbi.
Transport operators that ply the route that leads to districts such as Tsholotsho and Bulilima as well as Solusi University are also making brisk business, ferrying people to and from the spot where amacimbi harvesters have converged.
Some professionals have also joined the rush in a bid to get relish for their families and sell the delicacy that fetches a good price on the market.
Sunday News spoke to Mrs Mary Mambo who said she was a teacher and was part of the people harvesting the edible worms.
“As Bulawayo we have never experienced this kind of blessing, this macimbi thing is popular in Gwanda. I am overjoyed because they came at the right time as schools are about to open. I have collected more than five buckets so far with my children and it will help me pay their school fees since a 20-litre bucket of amacimbi sells at $100 at the market,” said Mrs Mambo.
Some of the people who were picking amacimbi also confirmed that business was brisk in the area.
“We have to come back to collect more since Monday we will be returning to work,” said a man who identified himself as Mr Ndlovu.
The rush has also led to the destruction of the surrounding environment.
A villager from the area, Mrs Sinanzile Nkomo expressed concern over the environment as the number of people coming to harvest amacimbi is increasing each day.
“I am worried people might start cutting down trees as they harvest amacimbi as some are perched on top branches,” she said.
There are also fears that gangs might start fighting over control of the area.
