Nemeneme provide hard cash for poor women

Nemeneme (small termite antlike insects eaten with porridge) has brought life to a 44-year-old unemployed woman from the deep rural village of Gaba.

Ms Balanganani Nancy Mudzunga commutes to Thohoyandou town everyday, to sell the delicious nemeneme to her customers.

She says that she wishes it could be summer forever because nemeneme is only available in the summer. "I had no other alternative but to wake up and do something to provide for my three kids who are all still at school. South Africa is full of opportunities and it is surprising to hear people saying that there are no jobs.

We need to put it upon our shoulders to make our lives better, because there is no one who will fight for us. The government cannot provide all of us with jobs and it is our responsibility to go the extra mile, by doing something for ourselves."

"Nemeneme becomes available in summer after heavy rains. I approach a tshiulu and block all the holes that can lead the insects out. I then dig up another hole and place my 25litre bucket and the insects automatically flow into the bucket." She says that she will then roast the nemeneme and add some salt to give them some taste. "I leave some without adding salt for those who do not eat it." Nancy says that she can sell at least ten cups of nemeneme each day. Each cup costs R10.

She encourages other unemployed community members to do something for themselves. "The time for sleeping is over and we need to show the world that we can do something for ourselves. We can only depend on ourselves because we are the masters of our own destiny. Although not all of us were lucky to receive an education, the only thing that will make us successful is to work hard."

News - Date: 21 December 2007

Wilson Dzebu

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