Court punishes chief over witchcraft

Court punishes chief over witchcraft
BY Mana
17:56:02 - 19 November 2008

Rumphi First Grade Magistrate court on Wednesday sentenced Village Headman Benson Mumba to pay K5,000 fine or in default serve 18 months imprisonment with hard labour for allowing a witchdoctor to conduct a prohibited witchcraft cleansing ceremony in his area.Mumba, 42, who comes from Malime Village, T/A Chikulamayembe in Rumphi District, has since paid the fine.The court learnt through Rumphi Police Station prosecutor Inspector Kingson Mwalughali who said that the village headman wrote two letters to traditional doctor Phillip Mzembe, a witch finder, inviting him to come and conduct witchcraft trials in the village.According to Mwalughali, Mumba invited the witch finder following wide spread reports that children in the village were being drilled in witchcraft acts by suspected witchcraft instructors.It was also reported that the children were being engaged in football matches at various grave yards where human heads were used as balls.The speculations further reported that many women in the village experienced nightmares where strange figures could make love to them without the women suspecting anything.These reports prompted the convicted village headman to invite the witch finder to cleanse the village of what he called evil men torturing innocent children.However, some children of Happy Nyasulu, one of the alleged witchcraft instructors, reported the matter to police, which lead to the arrest of the accused.Passing the sentence, Rumphi First Grade magistrate Antony Banda admitted that witchcraft exists, but “unfortunately the laws of Malawi do not recognize it.”“It’s true that witchcraft exists, but the laws of Malawi do not recognize it,” said Banda.He, therefore, said conducting witchcraft trials was prohibited as it contravenes chapter seven of the Witchcraft Act. The magistrate further advised chiefs, as custodians of the law, to master every part of the law and if they have difficulties in understanding it, should be referring such matters to relevant authorities.In mitigation, Mumba prayed for mercy saying he has a problematic leg. He did not elaborate.He further said he invited the witchdoctor for the good of his subjects.

Source:

http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=11208