Chief Singani of the Tonga people of Choma district has banned traditional witchdoctors from operating in his chiefdom.
The chief says he has taken the decision because the witchdoctors are causing unnecessary instability in the chiefdom.
In an interview with ZANIS in Choma yesterday, chief Singani said witchdoctors have been wreaking havoc in his chiefdom by ‘stealing’ people ‘s money in exchange for fake medicinal solutions.
He said it is sad that this is happening at the time the government is striving hard to improve health delivery in rural areas.
Chief Singani regretted that people have continued believing in the power of traditional healing practices despite efforts by government and its cooperating partners in ensuring that quality health care is accessed by everyone regardless of the place they live.
“As a chief I am banning witchdoctors in my chiefdom because it makes you avoid seeking medical attention from established health facilities such as clinics,” he said.
He also called on spiritual prophets to desist from discouraging people from taking Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) after praying for them.
Chief Singani observed that if this vice is not addressed, the number of people on treatment will drastically reduced, thereby defeating government’s efforts towards universal access to treatment and care for HIV and AIDS.
He has called upon his subjects to take advantage of health facilities closer to them and seek medical health as opposed to suffering loss of property and money to witchdoctors.
The traditional leader also encouraged people of Simukanka area where the Glasco Foundation has improved health facilities to use family planning services to promote child-spacing and avoid unwanted pregnancies.
He called on Glasco Foundation to build more health centres in his chiefdom to improve health care for his subjects.
ZANIS
the roller coaster
I hope this does not mean the banning of genuine well trained herbalists. Certainly Chief Singani is right to get rid of charlatans who prey on people with serious health issues, and tell them they have been bewitched or cursed or that they can expect miraculous overnight cures. The charges levelled by these fraudulent people are very high and they do not care if a patient has nothing left to feed himself or his family. Well done to the Chief for taking a brave step to help his subjects.
he is just scared of competition…..
How viable is this ban?
Good movie progressive chief.
his fearing to be caught.his a wizard.
Singani please go and sort out the Satanists in luapula and northern provinces around lake bangweulu. These people are engaged in cannibalism. They are temporary turning themselves into crocodiles with the sole intent of hunting and consuming human beings. One Floyd chitalu is deeply immersed in this evil practice. The other is his friend by the name of Maxwell!
Get civilised you idi0t!!! Its such mentality which the wise chief is against. How can you believe that a person can turn into another creature! Wabwelapofye ne Sukulu lyobe! Education has failed to change you! Shame on you!
make sure ukwa and his men don’t bring their luapula magic..
@.9 O. Lol you are now running scared! Go to bangweulu chief singani and sort out these satanic witches! Singani is coming after witches like the mambala @ 9 who want to hoodwink people about the non existence of this evil practice in his area. Black devils!