Africa · Zimbabwe General Public 5 September 2026

ZIMBABWE'S TRADITIONAL HEALING HERITAGE Traditional medicine has been practised in Zimbabwe for thousands of years. Long before the arrival of Western biomedicine, communities across the Zimbabwe plateau had developed sophisticated systems of healing that integrated botanical knowledge, spiritual cosmology, and social support. THE N'ANGA The n'anga (plural: n'angas) is the central figure in Shona traditional medicine. The term broadly describes a traditional healer whose practice encompasses divination, herbal medicine, and spiritual intercession. The n'anga is believed to act as an intermediary between the living and the ancestral spirits (midzimu), who are the ultimate source of healing power. Illness in this framework is often understood not merely as a physical condition but as a rupture in spiritual or social relationships that must be addressed holistically. NGANGA VS SEKURU Among the Ndebele of western Zimbabwe, the equivalent practitioner is the inyanga (herbalist) or isangoma (diviner). The distinction matters: the inyanga specialises in plant medicine and physical treatments, while the isangoma focuses on diagnosis through spiritual communication. In practice, many healers combine both roles. HERBAL MEDICINE IN PRACTICE Zimbabwe is home to over 500 species of plants used medicinally. The most widely used include Moringa oleifera (moringa), Sclerocarya birrea (marula), Adansonia digitata (baobab), Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw), and Hypoxis hemerocallidea (African potato). These plants are prepared as decoctions, infusions, topical pastes, and smoked fumigants depending on the condition being treated. TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND MODERN HEALTHCARE The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers' Association (ZINATHA), established in 1981, has worked to formalise and regulate traditional practice in Zimbabwe. Today, it is estimated that up to 80% of Zimbabweans consult a traditional healer at some point in their lives. Government policy has increasingly sought to integrate traditional medicine with formal healthcare, recognising its deep cultural roots and accessibility, particularly in rural areas.

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