Residents of Oweko Parish in Ndhew Sub County, Nebbi district have put a witch doctor under house arrest for reportedly failing to resurrect a dead person.
They claim the witch doctor stopped them from burying the deceased, whose body had stayed for three days, promising the mourners, that she would perform a miracle to resurrect their beloved one after receiving payment of Shs300, 000.
The parish councilor representing Oweko Parish Yanijo Gabbi confirmed the incident, identifying the witch doctor as Ms Everlyn Canuroma a resident of Zingili ward in Paidha Town Council, Zombo district whom the elders have fined one cow, two goats, and shs420,000.
However, the Resident District Commissioner Nebbi, Mr Robert Abak says, the witch doctor will be charged for disrupting the peace of the dead person and cautioned the community members to avoid using witch doctors as a solution to their problems.
Relatedly, In a peculiar case that has captured the attention of many, a Malawian traditional doctor was last year brought before the Chipata Magistrates’ Court on charges of obtaining money by false pretenses.
Emmanuel Banda, aged 34, stands accused of promising to resurrect a deceased individual in the Kasenengwa district.The incident revolved around the unfortunate demise of Drain Nyirenda, a resident of Katintha village in Chief Chikuwe’s area, who tragically lost his life while participating in the Gulewamkulu, a traditional Chewa dance.
Nyirenda met his untimely fate while engaged in the Gologolo dance, a segment of the ceremony that entails dancers ascending high poles, on December 24th, 2023.
According to reports presented in court, Nyirenda was said to have inserted his head into a loop of a mosquito net string tied to a 35-meter pole during the performance.
Emmanuel Banda purportedly approached the family of the deceased, offering to bring Nyirenda back to life for a fee. He allegedly received 900 Kwacha from Nyirenda’s family with the promise of resurrecting the departed.
However, during the court proceedings, it was revealed that Banda failed to fulfill his promise despite receiving payment.
The father of the deceased, who testified as the second prosecution witness, recounted how Banda attempted to deceive them by wrapping bedsheets around a plank, falsely claiming it was Nyirenda brought back to life.
The prosecution, led by Public Prosecutor Bright Lishebo, indicated that the state plans to present five witnesses in the case. In response to these charges, Chipata Resident Magistrate Destiny Kalusopa has adjourned the trial for further proceedings.
