Of Mice, Horse Meat, Dogs and Cats

Of Mice, Horse Meat, Dogs and Cats

MAKOSI

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Makosi Musambasi, the Zimbabwean Big Brother contestant kicked a lot of dust when she admitted she had tasted dog, horse and cat meat. She also said she had eaten mice. One of Zimbabwe's leading authors, Chenjerai Hove, today says "people should leave Makosi alone. She has other problems to sort out, but eating mice and horses are not some of the problems."

By Chenjerai Hove

I HAVE been following the sometimes bizarre exploits of our sister Makosi Musambasi in Big Brother UK. From what I read about her, she has managed to create both enemies and friends.

I found it strange, however, that her announcement that she has eaten a 'mouse' or two was unacceptable to some Zimbabweans. I am not sure about the truth of her having eaten 'horse' and 'cat' meat. I am trying to imagine where she got the cats.

Horses, I can imagine. It is really not news for anyone to eat horse meat. In France, where I lived for a few years, horse meat is sold in over two hundred butcheries all over the country, including in the capital Paris. And it is for human consumption.

In German, horse meat was very popular not so long ago. I am sure there are some people who still eat it today.

Eating horse meat there does not even make news. In Japan, sliced, raw horse meat is special with a drink of Japanese saki, extremely so special that you only give it to close friends while you drink saki.

As for cats, I remember when we were growing up in the Zvishavane area in the 1950s and 1960s, there was a man who was called 'VaZvikiti' (Mr Cat). We were told he relished cat meat. He himself never objected to being called that name. So, we assumed he ate cats. And I asked my mother if it was true the man ate cats, and she told me to give him one if I wanted to check the truth of the matter. Since I did not own a cat, I could not offer him one. But what I know is that quite a few cats went missing in the village during that time.

Fingers always pointed at him, and he never denied it.

Then comes the 'mice.' Any Zimbabwean who alleges that eating mice is unheard of in Zimbabwe is really lying. What I know is mice are not eaten in Matabelaland, but in the Mashonaland provinces, they are a special delicacy, especially after the harvest time when mouse traps invade the empty, grassy fields. I have eaten so many mice myself and I take them as very special. My mother is the best at preparing them, dried and roasted with mild red pepper (nekamhiripiri). Even in Harare I used to buy mice at the market in Mbare from June to August.

Maybe people are confused about mice and rats. Mice are the wild ones, which people eat. Rats are the ones which eat and gnaw at your things in the house (makonzo). Those are not eaten!

So, nothing strange about eating mice and horse! Cat, I am not sure.

Dog I am sure. Ask the Chinese about it!

So, I suggest people leave Makosi alone. She has other problems to sort out, but eating mice and horses are not some of the problems.
Hove is author of books like Bones, Ancestors, Shadows and has had poems published in several books.

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