07/08/2022
GAMO DUBUSHA
" Dubusha"
Untold story about Dubusha
Dubusha had been a source of the judicial system before the introduction of the modern Democratic system in the southern part of Ethiopia, in the Gamo Zone, for a long period of time. In the Gamo zone, Dubusha serves as parliament where local leaders and elders make administrative laws and orders in their community.
The Dubusha system generates peace and stability between disputes. In Dubusha, local leaders and elders discuss social, economic and political affairs. And they pass law and order according to the community standard.
According to the sources in most Gamo communities, the structure of the customary courts has three levels: Guta dubusha, at the village level; sub-dere dubusha, at the kebele level; and dere dubusha at the higher level. Hence, cases would be heard at the guta dubusha level, if not settled, referring to the second and third levels of the structure.
The Dubusha system is performed in all parts of the Gamo zone. But for today I would like to tell you about “Fango Dubusha", which is well known in Chencha Zuriya Wereda "Doko Mesho" Kebele.
This special system of justice preserving mechanism was practiced in a market place where local leaders and elders come together every Sunday to solve disputes among the marketers and other local people.
In Fango, Dubusha elders used to sit making square. The high elder’s site in their power hierarchy, Kawo comes first, then Dana, Huduga, Halaqa and other local leaders site accordingly their status and sit on sits which made in ancient time. Then, they hear, discuss and resolve disputes, and make laws.
In Doko Mesho , Sunday is market day, so the leaders and elderly people come to Fango Dubusha square starting from 5 ፡00 AM local time. When they arrive in the public square, elders stab their stick on the ground, which is called Xambaro or Hororsa, in the Gamo language. They also strew fresh grass on the ground saying blessing words.
Source: Chencha Zuria Woreda & Social Media outlets on Gammo Affairs