Two people in Chifunabuli District of Luapula Province have died after drinking an unknown substance given to them by a witchdoctor.
This follows accusations by family members that the duo, a brother and sister and two other persons, was practicing witchcraft.
Luapula Province Police Commissioner, Godfrey Mwanza, has confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Chitalimine Chipulu, 70 and Thomson Chinyanta, 67.
Mr Mwanza revealed that the deceased persons served as Village Headman and Vice respectively, of Malemba village in Senior Chief Mwewa’s Chiefdom.
“I can confirm that two people have died after a witch doctor from Samfya gave them an unknown substance to drink in a bottle and another substance believed to be anointed water after family members suspected them to be wizards,” Mr Mwanza said.
He further explained that brief facts in the matter are that the family of the deceased persons and the whole village have been experiencing mysterious deaths of family members and friends, which prompted them to ask for help from the witchdoctor.
“Following unexplained and mysterious deaths experienced in the village, the family of the deceased persons and the villagers sought help from the witchdoctor to find out what was causing the deaths and agreement was made to summon the witchdoctor to help in cleansing the village,” Mr Mwanza narrated.
He said on April 8, 2026, the traditional doctor administered the unknown substance to the four in the presence of villagers and after that, the gathering ended and he left for Samfya.
Mr Mwansa added that the same day at night, two of the four people who drank the said substance died.
He said the matter was reported by a member of the Community Crime Prevention Unit and on April 09, 2026, Police were dispatched to the village where the bodies of the deceased were picked and deposited to Lubwe Mission Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem and burial.
Mr Mwansa noted that investigations in the matter have been instituted and no arrest has been made as the witchdoctor is not known and no villager is willing to reveal his identity.
Noone would identify themselves as a witchdoctor. A person who treats people outside of Western medical qualifications is referred to as a Traditional healer.
The one who casts spells and sets spiritual traps is called a witch or wizard. Yes. A witch bewitches targets, good or bad.
In short, a witchdoctor is not the same thing as a Traditional healer.
The headline should be “Two killed by witchdoctor”
African Dr, Witch Dr. Traditionnal healer these days all in the same mould MONEY