Residents in in Kasongo area on the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway have beaten and burnt to death an elderly couple suspected to have been practicing witchcraft.
The residents pounced on Jungo Chisola, 80 and his wife Mutengu Sankananu whom they beat until they passed out and later piled tyres on them before setting them ablaze.
Mr Chisola’s body was burnt to ashes while his wife had her right leg dislodged from the body and intestines were pulled out.
The residents accused the couple to have been behind the death of a man who in fact died in a road traffic accident.
The tread of murdering individuals on suspicion of practising witchcraft is becoming a disconcerting norm in Zambia. Government needs to step up address this issue.
In some cases elderly people suffering from mental disease and alzheimer’s which may set in due to old age are mistaken for witches. People also need to know that the brain shrinks in old age and as the brain shrinks thought processing wanes.The elderly begin to have memory lapses,forgetfulness.
In the village an elderly person forgets the route to his village and finds him or herself in another village,people anonymously agree that the Old person is a witch and that’s why was he or she is found in the wrong place wondering.
This commonly happens at night when the elderly go out of the house to relieve themselves they wonder off their hamlet into the other people’s homes and villages and are suspected of being witches;she was flying and dropped off in another village.
A lot of elderly people will continue to lose their by lynching mobs because of this mystery of old age when just a little sensitisation for the community is all that is needed.If near a road side they have ended up being struck by a car and killed.We have read these stories in the papers and nobody has disputed them.Thus the power of ignorance.
Last week, Deputy Inspector General of Police Solomon Jere warned the public against taking the law into their own hands.
What’s needed in our country is stiff punishment on people who punish others for alleged witchcraft. If its mob justice let all those people in the whole group be arrested and charged for murder and jailed. That way this will end.In England in the 1800’s people used to kill owls for suspected witch craft, when the government introduced stiff punishment for whoever was found killing an owl was arrested people stopped killing the animal this time when you ask people about the owl in England they will tell you its a peaceful animal.
The article has pointed out important key issues that may leading to lynching of elderly people. Educate people on these issues first.
And we thought Africa was civilized!
What is needed is to just remove UKWAS from plot 1. These things never used to happen. One person eaten by a crocodile in Bangweulu and a couple killed by a mob ahead of bye-elections. This is how UKWA does it, sacrificing people in his strongholds. Watch the space and see how many more will die before the bye-elections slated for 25 July 2013. Until people realize that and take some step, such things will continue. UKWA is up to no good.
@Bupwe, it is mediocre people like u that the article is warning us about
This is very sad.Instead of us appreciating and protecting our elderly now we are in the forefront of taking their lives .Nafulwa sana.Ba police please bring the culprits to book.Mtsrip.
The killers are PF cadres in the PF stronghold and therefore nothing will happen to them. It is all sacrifice by UKWA ahead of bye-elections slated for 25 July,
@Bupe
I hope you’re not in a position to influence any young minds…..your children for example.
This is not good. When is this nonsense going to end? Goverment shud introduce a statutory instrument to punish people involved in mob justice.
Which government, PF? PF promotes these kind of thuggery. What a country.
It is a shame that in 2013 some people do not celebrate people iving to an old age. Especially that as in africa the life expectancy is so low, we should be admiring and respectin those who have managed to survive for a long time. We need to make sure that the murderers of these two people are severly punished and we need to educate people into not tolerating such thoughts of witchcraft and such lawless behaviour.
One day these people will also be old and in the same way they are murdering these old people that’s how they will meet there fate.”the bible says he whorises by the sword shall fall by the sword”.
awe chabipa but nasho indoshi shilakalifya sana, some people are ready to kill do all kinds of evil to a person, A person who probably is doing a good deed to them
but them (indoshi ) sees it fit to be witch that one particular person, We should leave this in God’s hands. ewututula penape Amen.
Tendoshi iyo mune, these are just innocent elderly people who have been sacrificed by UKWA ahead of bye-elections slated on 25 July. Watch and see how many people will die before the elections, already three have died so far including the 26 year old who was eaten by a crocodile in Bangweulu. This is how UKWA operates, he sacrifices his own do that he can win an election. People from his strongholds, beware! I foresee more bloodshed!
Unbelievable, both of you.
Stop it!
This is sad indeed, I will never forgive any current leader being traditional or Sata’s and his team. So painful.
What a shame. Who is going to tell your grandchildren fairytales if you kill the one knowing them? People in Zambia sometimes make me lose hope in the good of humans, how are you kill,where are your Morals? Calling yourselves Christians, hell is waiting for you. Am sad from within. Even unza degree holders aren’t aware what happens in old age with people, I wonder what Zambian education is all about, in EU a grade two knows that when people grow old they forget things etc. Shamelessly no excuse for this, even you who believe in witchcraft you can’t support these murders
What a shame. Who is going to tell your grandchildren fairytales if you kill the one knowing them? People in Zambia sometimes make me lose hope in the good of humans, how can you kill,where are your Morals? Calling yourselves Christians, hell is waiting for you. Am sad from within. Even unza degree holders aren’t aware what happens in old age with people, I wonder what Zambian education is all about, in EU a grade two knows that when people grow old they forget things etc. Shamelessly no excuse for this, even you who believe in witchcraft you can’t support these murders
WHAT A VERY SAD DEVELOPMENT! MEMORY DISEASE IS INDEED COMMON IN ALMOST ALL ELDERLY PEOPLE. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ACTING OUT OF IMPULSE. YOU ARE THE ONES WHO ARE IGNORANT ABOUT THE STATE OF MIND FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE. GOD WILL BE ANGRY AT YOU YOU TAKING AWAY INNOCENT LIVES JUST BECAUSE OF YOUR WRONG PERCEPTIONS ABOUT OLD PEOPLE.
This is very sad that we are continuing to lose our elderly people in society over alleged witchcraft practices.And those of you condemning the government for such issues arising in various places around the country,i don’t think this scenario is very new to us.Because even during the MMD government such issues where there.So spare the government leaders from this.Because even them would not love to hear such sad news happening in the country unless someone was a very big fool in his or her mind.MTSRIP.
PLEASE MAY THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES BRING TO BOOK THE PERPETUATORS OF SUCH CRIMES AND GAVE THE CULPRITS VERY VERY STIFF PENALTIES.
Why are our elderly people, we should care for them for us to reach old age. May their souls rest in peace and justice of God will prevail.
Its the work of pf terrorists
Thanks for this enlightened report LT. This is an indication of a sick society. This issue needs to be tackled by all community levels, it goes beyond Solomon Jere’s lone statement. The malicious rumours are often started by known individuals. Laws on the issue of witchcraft in Zambia need to be strengthened. Why have the church leaders been quite? Because we have failed to protect the weak as the bible says we are bringing a curse unto our country. In the end you will cry that Lord we performed miracles in your name, but he will say get away from me you evil doers……. what ever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me. Being silent is being an accomplice.
I miss mailoni brothers, they should be taken to Ndola to bring sanity because the commandos have failed, they just subsidised beer and smoke hemp with the man at plot one- stupid Zambians when shall you a to be civilised
You miss the mailoni brothers your ass, do you know how the families of the peaple the mailoni brothers killed feel? You are luck you were not killed by the same mailoni brothers.
This arises out of the penchance for superstition. If an old person outlives everyone then he must be a witch. If you find him lost then he was flying and fell down from the skies. But many old people become senile and thus they can forget their way home. Lets be more down to earth and look at things scientifically
One wonders whose more of a wizard or witch in these actions being displayed!
arrest all the morons involed. LT bloggers above, do not even try to explain or find reason. These murdering fools are murders. That is that.
I love the picture of the Zambian elderly women. Wish there was audio so I could hear what was being said.
Given the average lifespan of a Zambian, you are lucky to reach 80 years of age. These are national treasures. Instead we burn them out of superstition???
Maybe a concerted effort between the church and law enforcement will help curb this malaise.
(* puts palm against face at the brutality*)
It is about time we realize this brutality against our elderly. My own grand mother was tortured by her own son and grand children. It is animalistic behaviour that must be stopped. I work in a nursing home and I have learned the depth of ignorance and lack of love and respect our elderly. More government funds and training must be employed to educate the masses. I am so sad!
The elderly people you look after are lucky to have you Margaret. Uli wa luse.
ts not uluse as such, it is culturised standard in civilised countries..
So sad! how can we still continue behave in such primitive manner
Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you”.
You dont need to be so religious for you to understant the above scripture. Firstly, the verse is not just talking about your biological parents but all elderly people in our socities . Secondly, living longer benefit is to be awarded here on earth by deserving candidates and not in heaven or paradise depending on your beliefs .
The japanese offers one of the best treatment of elderly in their country and as such they have the highest life expectancy . And the countries with lowest life of expectancy is from the african continent where the elderly are humiliated , beaten ,killed and least considered to be part of society.
Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you”.
You dont need to be so religious for you to understant the above scripture. Firstly, the verse is not just talking about your biological parents but all elderly people in our socities . Secondly, living longer benefit is to be awarded here on earth by deserving candidates and not in heaven or paradise depending on your beliefs .
The japanese offers one of the best treatment of elderly in their country and as such they have the highest life expectancy . And the countries with lowest life of expectancy is from the african continent where the elderly are humiliated , beaten ,killed and least considered to be part of society..
What makes these people different from the people they claim are witches and who do they think they are? they kill, they also have blood on their hands, they are really evil people. They should be brought to justice and be punished accordingly. These are murderers killing people in the name of witchcraft, what evidence do they have?. Those are demons, they are not even fit to live among other humans because they do not have a cautious and empathy or consideration for human life, what happened to human rights, I thought Zambia was a peaceful country. Very disappointed, really
sad.
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