A witch doctor of Chongwe Township is nursing a broken jaw, unable to speak, after a mob attacked him for allegedly bewitching two people of the same family.
In a statement, Deputy Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga revealed that around 20:00 hoursnon Monday, an angry mob descended on the 68-year-old witch doctor identified as Peter Siame after he was accused of being responsible for the death of two family members.
Hamoonga also reported that the same witchdoctor had been paid K2,500 by a named woman of the same community so that he could kill her husband and his family members, something which incensed members of the public.
“Facts of the matter are that around November, 2018, The witchdoctor (Peter Siame 68years) was approached by the wife to a Mr Chisanga a local business man to kill him, his family and eight others. According to the list that was given to the witchdoctor, two members of the same family died within a week and the story came to light which incensed the public who apprehended Mrs Chisanga and they wanted to kill her but was rescued by the Police, at this moment the Witch Doctor escaped and ran away to Chongwe where he stays,” Hamoonga stated.
Hamoonga further stated that the incensed residents tied the witch ]doctor and put tyres around him so that they could burn him to death but he was rescued by police.
“However, Mrs Chisanga was kept in custody for her safety and the family for the deceased persons were advised to take a civil suit. The case came up for a hearing on 4th February, 2019 at Chelston local court where the Witch Doctor also attended. After the court case, they went to Chainda with the Witch Doctor where he apologized and revealed to have been paid K2,500 to kill the two persons, while the other person is nursing a swollen leg (a niece to the other two deceased persons). It was at this point that one of the family members informed the neighbours that the witch doctor was in the house and that was how they descended on him. Quick action by police rescued him and was taken to Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital where he is currently admitted. He sustained a broken Jaws and is not able to talk. We are appealing to the general public to desist from taking the law in their own hands but rather let the due process of the law to take its full course,” stated Hamoonga.
