Karonga village headman hacked to death: Witchcraft wrangle

A 56 year old group village headman Mtende of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilupula in Karonga was hacked to death Tuesday allegedly because of a wrangle between him and his acting on accusations bordering on witchcraft. 

Nyasa Times understands that the wrangle was responsible for six mysterious deaths in the month of August alone.

Enock Livason, Karonga Police Publicist confirmed the death and identified the name of the deceased as Alfred Mwangosi, and that he was dethroned in 2010 by over undisclosed reasons.

“He was told to resume his services this year but the development did not go well with the one who had replaced him as acting chief. He mobilized a gang to kill the deceased,” explained Livason.

He added: “On Tuesday the deceased went to the house of his rival to resolve their disagreement in order for him to take over the chieftainship but unfortunately upon arriving a gang started hacking him and he died eventually.”

Six people have been arrested in connection to the murder.

Arrests for couple’s mob justice

In a related development village headman Mtendere of T/A Kyungu was arrested Tuesday on suspicion that he mobilized villagers to set ablaze a house alleged to have been belonging to couple alleged to be practicing witchcraft.

The murdered couple is identified as 76 old man Taipi Vinkhumbo of Mtendere village Traditional Authority Kyungu and a 65 old woman Marinara Vinkhumbo of Mwanyesha village in the same area.

Karonga District Council chairperson Patrick Kisyombe said the council will come up with by-laws to protect people accused of witchcraft, saying some of accusations “are out of jealousy. “

He said: “When someone is doing well they are often suspected of witchcraft, so we need to protect people by coming up with by-laws.”

There are beliefs in Karonga that people breed magical crocodiles to attack their enemies. A number of people have been victims of crocodile attacks allegedly initiated by their foes although there is no proof.