The Tonga! Were they betrayed?

THE TONGA

For uncountable centuries they lived quietly in the Gwembe Valley along the shores of the Zambezi River.

In small communities of only a few families they built their simple homes on stilts, in order to protect themselves and their food reserves from the seasonal high water, but also from marauding animals.

Fish and small animals, wild growing fruit and vegetables were their sustenance.

They happily believed in the Spirit World until Christian Missionaries tried to convert them to their set of beliefs. The result, as almost always, was a mixture of Christian  Witchcraft and African  Witchcraft.

In 1955 the British Government decided to build a dam across the River in the Gwembe Valley, and commissioned an Italian firm to do so. When the dam was finished, it created the worlds largest man-made lake, 240 km long and up to 40 km wide.

This achievement did not happen without victims:

Some 57,000 Tonga were told that they would have to move to higher land, since their old homesteads would be flooded, and through an effort, called Operation Noah, some 6000 animals, Elephants, Antelopes, Rhinos, Lions, Leopards, Zebras, warthogs, birds and snakes were rescued.

The Tonga firmly believed that The River God, NyjamiNyjami will not allow a dam to be built across his river.

He will cause a big flood and destroy man's work. And so it happened. One hundred and ninety six workers were killed in a massive destruction of the partially built dam.

Despite this set-back, however, the work was completed in 1958.

“This is not the end of it,” some Tonga insist. Occasional small tremors, they say, are a sign of NyjamiNyjami's anger.

Their new, dry land would be irrigated and they would have electric power at their disposal. Or so they were promised back in 1955. This promise remained but a promise.

In 1985 I visited their land and found small villages, consisting of 5 or 6 families, who had a Missionary, teaching them about Jesus and the Pope, but not about irrigation or hydro-electric power.

Some few Tonga started to breed cattle and became relatively well established farmers.

Most of them, to this day, however, lead a life at the subsistence level.

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“We had better clear the road” Glad said. “There are cattle coming and they don't look as if they were prepared to share the road with us.”

So, we stepped aside and let 15 to 20 cattle pass.

“There are some women following the cows” said Glad.

“They are likely Tonga” I said, proud of my very recently acquired knowledge.

The smoking of the “Hookah Pipe” is the privilege of Tonga women.

In some cases one or two of the woman's front teeth are removed 

to allow the pipe to rest comfortably.

She seems to blissfully enjoy her smoke.

Tonga women engaged in the production of Corn Flower

“Tonga” in the language of the Shona means “Independent” :

 one is left to wonder.

Glad was obviously moved at the life-style of the Tonga.
"Where is their electricity? Where are their beautiful houses, all of which, we were told, they were  promised." she asked with anger in her voice. .
"One visit to one village is not enough to judge." 
I tried to assuage her anger and empathy.
"We should leave the judgement and the action to those who know more about the circumstances."
Frankly speaking, I did not even convince myself.

“The Man of Jesus” in white, to his Left: Glad.
I wonder whether his teaching about Christ and the Pope
includes irrigation and hydro-electricity.

On the way home from the pub.

Not only did the man have a drink, or two,

the Donkeys certainly had a drink too man