What started as women meeting at the Mulenzhe Clinic for voluntary work has given birth to a very formidable cultural group.

Mulenzhe Clinic Cultural Group, which was started in 2013, is the brainchild of a very traditional nurse at the clinic, Ms Margareth Nangammbi (38). The group has 12 members, drawn from the ranks of unemployed women who did voluntary work at the local clinic. They can do almost all the Venda traditional dances but specialise in the Malende dance.

Nangammbi, who is from Lambani, where traditional dancing is one of the most prevalent forms of entertainment, said it started when the women would come to the clinic to help with the cleaning and tending of the vegetable garden at the clinic. “We developed a very close relationship and during break, they would use buckets as drums and would just break into song and start dancing. As someone who understands traditional dancing, after having grown up in such an environment, I could hear that they had talent. That was when I organised a group and we started practising during our spare time. The rest is history,” she said.

She said theirs was now more than just a cultural dance group as they supported each other in developing themselves because most of the members were not working. “We perform at most functions in the village and we also perform per invitation at other villages. We also find time to discuss challenges that we come across on a daily basis; those with problems feel free to voice them and we assist each other. One thing that we have realised is that most of our womenfolk lack financial muscle, which makes them vulnerable to abuse,” she said.

She said they were now planning to have their own vegetable garden plot where they would plough and plant vegetables which they could use at their homes and also to sell to generate money for members.

“We are going to approach the local traditional leader, Thovhele Jeffrey Ramovha. We know he is keen on development and he will support us. We would like to see women having economic freedom and not having to beg at all times,” added Nangammbi.

Eunice Tshiredo (34), a mother of three from Mulenzhe, said being a member of the group had changed her life completely. “I am not working and every day I would just sit down with nothing to do but ever since I joined the group, I am no longer lonely. When I am with other women, we share experiences and now my life is back on track again,” she said.

Those wishing to have the group perform or want more information can phone Nangammbi at 072 087 5047.