116 Book Reviews
struggles. Many of the participants seem to have accepted the conventional view
that a central characteristic of African societies is the absence or uneven development
of civil society. However, what many of the contributions portray is not so
much the growth of civil society in Africa, but rather the emergence and consolidation
of a new professional middle class which is playing a central role in the
polib'cisation of parts of an existing civil society. The ability of this social group
to play such a role appears to depend on a particular historical conjuncture
characterised by the uneven development of the market and the severe structural
changes imposed on a fragile post-colonial state. Thus, the book raises, but does
not answer, fundamental questions about the class nature of political and civil
society in Africa and the extent to which the civil associations represented at the
conference are likely to form the basis for more broadly based social movements.
Reviewed by Ian Clegg, Lecturer, Centre for Development Studies, University of
Swansea, Wales, UK.
The People of the Great River: The Tonga Hoped the Water Would Follow
Them, Michael Tremmel and the River Tonga People. Artwork by Loes Roos,
Publisher Mambo Press in association with Silveira House (Price: approx Zim $ 10
from Silveira House. Mambo Bookshops, and Grassroots Bookshops).
*
This short, accessible, and honest book should be read by people interested in the
Zambezi valley's social and natural history. It tells the tale, directly, and in the
words of a selected group of elderly local people, of the consequences experienced
by the River Tonga People since they were translocated to make way for the rising
waters of Kariba dam.
Fr. Michael Tremmel, a Catholic priest, has spent the last eight years in Binga
District. He states his belief that the old missionary approach of bringing 'enlightenment'
was wrong, and he sees himself as a "missioner", or someone who
recognises that God has been, and is present, in the Tonga culture and tradition.
The motive for the book emanates from the author's empathy with the forced
sacrifice, made by the River Tonga, for the sake of a nation they did not identify
with. In the history of landre-classificationofZimbabwe, the Tonga were not alone
in paying the cost for the benefit of others. Nevertheless, the book testifies to the
fact that a social and economic price was paid fora 'greater commonwealth'. Those
who benefited most, with hindsight, are all users of hydro-electric power from
Kariba, and the wildlife and fishery based industries of the region.
The book is not a deep historical account, nor a academic book, more an
authentic tribute to the local people. It recognises an event, occurring in the late
1950s, which changed the environment they had co-existed with for centuries.
What brings the book to life is that the author analyses several themes - life before
the flooding, displacement, lifetoday.andfutureprospects-withagroupof Tonga
men and women who have lived through the entire experience.
Book Reviews 117
It provides many direct quotes which will remain as windows into the people's
perception of their world. For example Kapu Muchimba, talking about ritual and
family life, says:
"We still perform our ancestral ceremonies this side of the lake even though
we are separated from our relatives. We should be together with our
relatives on the other side of the lake so we could do these ceremonies
together with our ancestors".
We are reminded that neither culture nor nature fits neatly into national boundaries,
and that this is tiresome for many people.
As someone who has related to rural development activities in the area since
national independence, it is hard for me to accept that outcome of the development
effort pales in comparison to the spiritual and material experience of resettlement.
Being directly involved in the CAMPFIRE Programme, which aims to link wildlife
to rural development, it is disappointing to read mainly negative personal impressions
of wildlife from the Tonga contributors. Hopefully, this situation is still
changing and younger people will, in their lifetimes, realise a greater share of the
natural resource wealth in their region.
Tears and tribulations may be the inheritance of the recent past, but salvation
can surely only come through the local organisation of the Tonga themselves
around the natural resource base in their district. The revenues presently captured
by CAMPFIRE are only a part of the wildlife, aquatic, and tourist revenue resource
flows. The Tonga need their own leaders, and they need to pull together, for in the
words of a Tonga proverb quoted in the book, "the one who walks alone by the
stream, gets eaten".
Perhaps many adults will be too cynical to get much from this book, but I would
urge parents to buy it for their children. We all have our own ideas about the Zambezi
valley, especially the wildlife and fishing fraternity, why not learn how the
potential stewards of the valley, the resident people, feel about it? While the
author's recommendation that visitors should befriend a Tonga family may be
going too far for most 'strangers in paradise', the point should be well taken.
Michael Trammel's book comes from the heart and faithfully puts across the
people's perspective. It is beautifully illustrated by Loes Roos, and has a fold-out
map showing settlement, by chiefdom, before and after the valley floor was
inundated by the Zambezi's waters. It is quite readable and I would especially
recommend it to all secondary school children who should be informed of the
nation's origin.
Silveria House, which has supported the book, have made it the centerpiece of
a number of activities aimed at promoting awareness of the life of the River Tonga,
past and present. They will publish the book in Tonga as well as English, and they
launched the book in Binga first. A set of cards taken from Ms Roos' illustrations
is also being made available to the public.
Review by Simon Metcalfe, Advisor to Zimbabwe Trust CAMPFIRE support
project. Researchfellow with the Centre for Applied Social Sciences, University
ofZimbabwe.