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This law also makes it a criminal offence to hire a witch hunter or assist in the commission of witchcraft, but also provides some protection to people accused of practising witchcraft.
This, however, boggles most people given the number of cases of alleged witchcraft that have been heard in the country’s courts of law.
There have been media reports where certain individuals have confessed to being witches but go unpunished.
Witchcraft is a diabolic act, which is condemned in the Bible because it is believed to be associated with Satanism. Some use witchcraft just for fun or out of malice. Others resort to it in order to gain riches.
Witchcraft is defined as the supposed manipulation of natural events by people using supernatural means.
There are some who have confessed to possessing witchcraft tools like goblins, snakes and other scary instruments of darkness yet nothing is done by law enforcers to prosecute such individuals.
I think stricter laws should be put in place against those who are presumed to be practising witchcraft because evidence in the media shows that this has become rampant. If police are presented with concrete evidence, then the alleged witches must be prosecuted.
To illustrate the extent of the problem, a few examples could be important and all of them are but crimes against humanity deserving the same treatment before the courts of law. Recently in Nkayi an old woman, Ms Anna Maphosa, confessed that she kills people and eats human flesh with other villagers. She and her friends have not been brought to book.
Another instance is of a Gweru woman who confessed that she was responsible for her neighbour’s illness. The neighbour later died under suspicious circumstances. Shockingly again, nothing was done to the woman.
I see no difference in the Gweru case with a person declaring to have killed someone and goes scot-free.
Also recently in Gokwe a certain man came out openly that he owned a goblin which terrorised women by taking off their panties at night.
A snap survey carried by Chronicle revealed mixed feelings over the issue of witchcraft with some people subscribing to this concept of supernatural powers and others the opposite.
“The issue of witchcraft is a double-edged sword as it is very difficult to prove that one is a witch or wizard. Of course we have stories of people confessing to practising witchcraft or possessing goblins but I had never seen one myself. As for me I do not subscribe to the beliefs even some sections of society rely heavily on the spiritual world, for good or evil,” said Mr Prince Mathe from Maphisa.
Said Mrs Sally from Esigodini: “Witchcraft exists and we cannot run away from the fact that people are bewitched. We cannot turn a blind eye regarding the existence of witchcraft; hence the law should take its course against those found guilty because they cause public enmity”.
Mr Edward Phikelela Mhlanga, a traditional healer, argued that anyone who is convicted of being a witch with enough proof should be dealt with according to the law.
“Anyone who is found guilty the law should take its course without favour. If it means to be hanged the accused should be hanged,” he said.
Given all the foregoing, not much attention is being put on stamping out witchcraft because it is traditional leaders who have to deal with all witchcraft cases at their customary courts while the police chase other crimes.
This gives the impression that witchcraft cases are trivial, non-existent in contemporary society and not worthy of police concern.
This should be a wake-up call for the Government, legislators and law enforcers to intervene. Leaving this for chiefs, village heads and the tsikamutandas does not solve anything but rather creates enmity among villagers. The law should now take its stand and protect the citizens’ right to safety against evil.
The worrisome fact is that with all these revelations, in Zimbabwe one can find himself behind bars for calling someone a witch or wizard!
The hard fact is witchcraft exists and it is common among African people, so the law must appreciate this reality and be flexible to punish offenders while protecting those who are wrongly accused.
A belief in witchcraft is not necessarily problematic but the actions taken in consequence of the belief, however, may violate human rights and lead to societal problems. The allegations can profoundly impact on the accused by subjecting them to harassment, violence and even death.
*Msilisi Dube can be contacted on 0775 555 256 or [email protected]
Online Reporter