Malawi Police arrest ‘witchdoctor’ for selling family at K170m
Police in the northern city of Mzuzu have arrested a witchdoctor and his accomplice for trying to sell a family of three for MK170m to a prospective Business person for use in rituals believed to make people rich.
Husband and wife, Kantende Ibrahim and Loveness Sachokela respectively were tagged at MK70 million while their two year old child, Yakho Ibrahim was going at MK30 million.
Police have since charged the witch doctor, 42 year Pearson Dzimbiri of Namiwa Village, Traditional Authority Chimaliro, Thyolo District and 23 year old Levison Nota of Ndevu Village, Traditional Authority Kachere, Dedza district with abduction contrary to section 259 of the penal Code.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment with hard labor.
Mzuzu Police Station Public Relations officer Sergeant Maurice Chapola confirmed the arrest saying the people ‘auctioning’ happened at Makopolo Village, Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba district.
Chapola said Nota who in 2011 worked as tenant in the Tobacco Estates coaxed the family, which comes from Kudemela Village, Traditional Authority Kaphuka in Dedza district, to travel to Enukweni and meet Dzimbiri who had magic that would make them rich.
“When the family met Dzimbiri he told them that for the magic to work Ibrahim would have to kill his blood sister. Ibrahim agreed. But after Dzimbiri worked on his concoctions, Ibrahim’s sister did not die.
“When Dzimbiri realized that the magic failed to work, he then connived with Nota to sell the family so that they could be killed and their body parts used for rituals or magic that makes people rich,” Chapola said.
He said the duo then started discreetly contacting Business persons at Enukwemi Trading Centre “selling” the family.
“They contacted one lady, who showed interest to buy the family. But the lady contacted Police, who posed as buyers but they eventually arrested the duo,” the Police said.
