Traditional healers, prophets attacked

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
TRADITIONAL healers and prophets have been warned against fuelling violence within rural communities through spreading allegations of witchcraft. Addressing villagers gathered at Ndolwane Business Centre on Thursday, Matabeleland South provincial crime consultative committee chairperson, Obert Sibanda said a number of murder cases were fuelled by witchcraft issues.

The police together with the province’s crime consultative committee held a crime awareness campaign in Bulilima District which has the highest record of violent crimes in the province.

Sibanda urged villagers to be cautious of advice they get from traditional healers and bogus prophets.

“Traditional healers and prophets have caused a lot of enmity between families with their superstition on witchcraft. A number of people have murdered their relatives after being told that they were bewitched by them,” said Sibanda.

He said the province had been declared a red zone after a national crime analysis had shown that it was one of the top violence prone areas.

Sibanda said the worst place within the province was Madlambuzi policing area in Bulilima which recorded the highest number of murder cases.

He also urged villagers to join various crime fighting committees within the community.

Sibanda said community members had to desist from hiding and protecting criminals that were being pursued by the police.

“Villagers have to apply traditional methods of resolving disputes which involve holding dialogue moderated by community leaders or family elders, said Sibanda.

Also speaking at the campaign meeting, Chief Masuku from Gwanda who is also a Matabeleland South provincial crime consultative committee member lamented the increase of rape cases.

“It is saddening that a number of primary school children are being raped almost on a daily basis. The perpetrators should be brought to book whether they are relatives or strangers.

“I would also like to urge women to engage in self help projects which will enable them to live independently of their spouses,” said Chief Masuku.

He said a number of violent men were being protected by their wives as they were sole bread winners of their families.

Villagers bemoaned the invisibility of the police in their communities.

They said more police officers had to be deployed to rural communities.

“The police bases are there within our communities but you find that a station would be manned by two or one police officer. At times the police bases are left unmanned and we fail to get services when we need them the most.

“It becomes really easy for criminals to operate freely when they know that they can strike and disappear before the police are informed,” said a villager from Ndlolwane area.

The meeting was attended by villagers, school pupils, traditional leaders, community members and the police.

Police together with the crime consultative committee held a similar meeting in Clemont which is a mining area in Fort Rixon on Wednesday. A third meeting is scheduled for Zezani area in Beitbridge. The three are considered as crime-prone areas.