MOTHER, DAUGHTER IN COURT FOR ASSAULTING NEIGHBOR ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT
MOTHER, DAUGHTER IN COURT FOR ASSAULTING NEIGHBOR ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT
IN a quest to a establish the cause of her daughter’s childlessness, 53-year old Winfridah Chikumbi and her ‘unfruitful’ daughter found themselves in conflict with the law, when they assaulted their neighbor in a witch hunt.
Chikumbi, a businesswoman and Prisca Chikumbi, 20, a business lady, are facing one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
It is alleged that the two, on February 18, 2024, whilst acting together assaulted Mable Namukonde thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
Namukonde was accused of being a witch owing to her perpetual habits of basking in the sun, in attempts to get rid of her shivers after she contracted malaria in Isoka where she had gone to visit.
In a witch purge, the mother and daughter turned the elderly Namukonde into a punching bag and beat her to pulp suspicions that she was behind the 20-year old’s barrenness.
The accused also used pots, saucepans and cooking sticks to inflict pain on their suspected witch.
Namukonde, was defaced and left with abrasions on her face and she later suffered agonizing body pains.
Appearing before Magistrate Mutinta Mwenya, the two pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Magistrate Mwenya adjourned the matter to April 23, 2024, for commencement of trial.
Kalemba