Wildlife conservation and traditional medicine collide in Swaziland

Traditional medicine or “muti” is an important part of Swazi culture. However, increasing demand for muti has put some animal species in the southern African kingdom at risk of extinction. This is something conservationists and molecular biologists want to change.

Molecular biologist Zamekile Bhembe, who works in the USAID-funded EWild Laboratory at the University of Swaziland, is fighting poachers and trying to convict them.

She said poaching for traditional medicinal purposes was the main cause of biodiversity decline and she wanted stricter regulations to protect wildlife.

“Every time you see a decline in biodiversity, there’s some kind of poaching involved,” she said. “As a country, we cannot deny that we are using these resources for our traditional medicines. It’s just that we need a regulatory approach.”

For generations, the people of Swaziland have retained traditional beliefs and values. This is reflected in the fact that more than 80% of the population still seeks advice and treatment from traditional healers or “witch doctors”.

These healers use knowledge passed down from generation to generation to create traditional medicine using a variety of plant and animal species. However, overhunting has endangered local populations of pangolins, crocodiles, vultures and owls, prompting calls for more sustainable practices.

Makhanya Makhanya, president of the Witch Doctors Association, is a well-known traditional healer in her own right. He said the role of traditional healers needed to be protected.

He said these therapists had been serving Eswatini for generations, providing treatment and support to those in need. But he said current laws don’t reflect the reality of their work. He would like to see regulations recognizing the role of traditional healers in society and allowing them to continue to work.

South African citizen Patrick Maduna said he traveled to Swaziland from neighboring South Africa to seek traditional medicine solutions. His preference for traditional remedies illustrates the complex relationship between modern and traditional medicine in Swaziland.

“I came all the way from South Africa to Swaziland for traditional care,” he said. “I’ve been using the same traditional doctor since 2006 and I’ve been coming to the same place. For me, to get traditional care, it’s like therapy for me. I’ve never been to a hospital .”

Maduna said that if Swaziland had laws restricting the poaching of animals for traditional medicine, he believed the so-called witch doctors would abide by them.