This article is based on field research in the Mutema chieftaincy of Chipinge District of Zimbabwe. It considers legends and rituals related to rain-making. Apart from the different political agendas of different leaders, a central theme is that people attribute drought to conflicts between traditional political leaders at various levels. To ensure good rains, leaders must resolve their conflicts and come together for rituals to worship their ancestral spirits. The article also considers the important role of women in ritual, and rainmaking in particular: men are powerless without the co-operation of their women.
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