Police in Mansa District have arrested a traditional healer who allegedly burnt a 15-year-old boy’s thighs and penis with a brazier after a ‘healing’ process went bad.
Luapula Province Police Commissioner Elias Chushi, who confirmed the incident today, narrated that on October 5, 2019 at around 10:00 hours, Police in Mansa received a report of assault on a child from Joslyn Mwale of Chief Mibenge’s area.
He said Mwale told the police that her 15-year-old nephew of Village Chitakwa in Chief Chimese’s area in Mansa district was burnt by a traditional healer, Jackson Mwaba, 51.
Mwale further told police that the traditional healer was with his helper, Andrew Kunda, 38, when the incident happened.
“The incident occurred on October 3, 2019 around 12:00 hours at Jackson Mwaba’s house where the victim was taken to be cured of his mental illness,” he said.
Facts are that on the material day, the traditional healer instructed his helper to put herbal medicine on a brazier then later got hold of the victim and placed the brazier in between his thighs and covered him with a blanket.
“This caused the victim to sustain deep burns on both his thighs and penis,” narrated Chushi.
“The victim was later escorted to Mansa General Hospital where he was admitted and the suspects are detained in police custody and will soon appear in court.”
One Response
As a parent when you notice that the child exhibit strange behaviour for his age, the best is to take the child to a hospital for psychological assessment. I also wish to implore the government to open up mental health department at clinics. The non availability these services at clinics is what is causing some parents to seek unconvetional treatment.