By Robert Tapfumaneyi
AS the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to hit the country with record infections and deaths being recorded, some desperate locals have resorted to using Bute in the hope the traditional snuff contained healing properties against coronavirus.
The snuff is now scarce in many places while prices have gone up due to high demand as some Covid-19 survivors have reportedly been sharing testimonies that it stimulated sneezing and consequent clearing of blocked nostrils.
But in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com Monday, Raymond Munonoki, a traditional healer based in Mufakose, Harare said this was caused by citizens who were becoming desperate to heal from the virus hence turning to anything in the hope of staying alive.
Though not scientifically proven, according to traditional healers snuff or bute has medicinal properties.
Muchembere Hungwe says the snuff has been used for centuries to treat various ailments, and is regarded as the pain stop version of traditional medicine.
“Our ancestors used this snuff to treat headaches, stomach aches, you name it. Everything can be treated using snuff even up to this day I use snuff to treat my family,” said Hungwe.
Another traditional healer, Sekuru Banda explains how snuff is made.
“There are different types of Bute but it is all made from tobacco, the tobacco is dried and made into powder,” he said.
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