Traditional Healer Arrested

A witch doctor and his assistant are among the four people who have been detained in Chibombo for the offenses of obtaining items under false pretenses, accusing someone of being a witch, and causing unlawful bodily harm.

Elidah Mafumo, 54, a head woman, Moses Msukuma, 34, Christian Kabwe, 21, and Kelvin Musonda, 30, a witch doctor, were all arrested yesterday at around 3:00 a.m.

Moses, one of the accused, was detained for accusing someone of being a witch, and the village headwoman was detained for allowing a witch finder to do divination in her community.

On the other hand, Kabwe, the witch finder’s assistant, was detained for the offense of Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm.

According to David Chileshe, the police commissioner for the Central Province, the group was detained after police received information from worried citizens that a witch finder was conducting divination operations nearby.

“Officers from Chibombo Police Station together with Keembe Police Post undertook an operation on Monday, February 6th, 2023 at around 03:00 hours which led to the apprehension of the above mentioned persons. Six unlawfully obtained herds of cattle were recovered while the victims of the heinous crimes are yet to be contacted. The suspects are detained in lawful custody pending appearance in court,” he said.