Let Dingaka Regulations Prosper The Trade

Monitor Editor | Monday August 31, 2015 15:45

This is welcome indeed. Traditional healing practice, whether done  by bones throwing gurus, herbalists or spiritual healers has to be done and conducted in a responsible  and accountable manner. This will be good news to the customer whether it is that customer who approaches the traditional healer for a good luck charm, or to fortify his/her home from witchcraft, or for that mysterious ailment, or even those who go to a fire church pastor for that divine life changing bottled-water or special olive oil; at the end of the day, all these services are done for a profit and the customer deserves their money’s worth.

We hope that with the regulations that are now said to be at advanced stage, the healers will no longer hide behind the mystery of their trade but rather will be held liable with clearly defined consequences.In fact, we hope that certain naughty and mischievous practices are clearly outlawed in the regulations. The regulations should clearly spell out that the practice of depositing certain medicines into the womb using the healer’s so called potent penis is outlawed and punishable.

The healers should see the new regulations as ushering in a new dawn for them as well as individual healers. This could now for the first time be a chance to patent their tried and texted mixtures and sue whoever exploits such potent herbal mixtures without their express consent. Indeed, this could usher in the new dawn whereby the consumers start buying off the shelves patented, tried and tested traditional herbals that can help solve certain ailments.

This could give birth to large-scale production of certain herbs that are in huge demand such as herbs for sexual performance, our own Viagra, resulting in millionaire traditional doctors and marketing companies from Botswana. It is already happening in neighbouring South Africa where they have millionaire herbalists. In fact, some of their herbs are even sold over the counter in Botswana. Flourishing like this however cannot be realised without a piece of legislation that protects the innovation in this trade. It is on the basis of the anticipated outcomes that we also hail the proposed traditional healers’ regulation by the ministry of Health.