Insights into the potential of indigenous rain making practices in combating the negative effects of climate change in Chimanimani district of Zimbabwe

Foreign and western modernity continue to influence indigenous knowledge in Africa many decades after the struggle against colonization was won. For example, cloud seeding is a technology commonly used for rain making. However, in Zimbabwe those who believe in western science look down upon renowned traditional rain makers. Considering the fact that climate change causes water and food insecurity, there is need to build an understanding of how indigenous and scientific knowledge systems can be integrated to combat this problem. Thus, an exploratory study was conducted in Chimanimani District of Zimbabwe focusing on this theme. A semi-structured interview guide was used to facilitate conversations with a judgmental sample of five Shona-speaking rain makers and thirteen community members who predominantly were more than 70 years old. These were regarded as key informants. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The respondents lamented the erosion of the rain making tradition,which they argued had helped conserve flora and fauna for centuries. This was attributed to the failure of co-existence of scientific and indigenous knowledge, religious orientations, political interference, poor environmental management and general decay in human factor. It is concluded that the suggestions that the rain makers made on the integration of scientific and indigenous knowledge to combat the negative effects of climate change on water and food security be tested.

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