Story by Tichaona Kurewa
ART remains the cornerstone of the resort city of Victoria Falls, with wood carving being a vibrant part of that heritage.
Since the year 2008, these wood carvers have passed down the tradition of crafting intricate sculptures from local hardwood, transforming raw materials into stunning works of art that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Through their artistry, they have transformed wood into captivating sculptures that depict the diverse wildlife of Zimbabwe, including majestic elephants, graceful giraffes and powerful crocodiles using both traditional and modern tools.
“We carve all sorts of things here, we can even work with customer specifications or requirements. Customers can even come here with pictures. We can produce whatever is in those pictures,” Mubhoyi Carvers vice chairperson, Mr Gift Sithole Chibangwa said.
“When we do not have orders we work the big five. These ones we know have a ready market. The carving process is long but when everything is in one place, it takes about two days to complete a small elephant.”
The association’s artistry is a testament to the resilience and dedication of its members, who have not only preserved a time-honoured craft but also found a sustainable way to support their families.
“Most of us here have families, I have five children and I have managed to sustain my stay in town and send them to school. This small elephant is sold at about US$5, on a good month an individual here can have a take-home of about US$300,” he said.
The association’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its meticulous sourcing of raw materials about 140 kilometres outside Victoria Falls.
“We obtain these logs legally from Musuna from those people who are clearing land for agriculture or any other purpose with the blessings of village heads. We obtain letters from the Village Head to support the transportation of those logs so that it will be clear that they are not obtained from parks or forestry areas, Chibangwa said.
Mubhoyi Carvers Association continues to grow and evolve, as they have rules and penalties for those who break them, including causing arrests of members involved in theft or fighting.
“We appeal to the City of Victoria Falls and government to look at supporting us. We do have a piece of land allocated to us that does not have ablution facilities, we appeal to the powers that be, to assist in that regard. We are all growing old here and there will come a time when we cannot carve anymore. We appeal to relevant departments to assist with pension schemes that will sustain us in future,” Mr Chibangwa said.
The carvers’ commitment to preserving traditional techniques while embracing innovation has ensured that the art of wood carving continues to thrive in Victoria Falls.
