Chief Nyawa of the Toka-leya people of Kazungula District says he is disappointed with increased witchcraft activities in his chiefdom.

The chief said this when three suspected wizards appeared before a traditional court at his palace recently for allegedly killing people through witchcraft. He warned the suspects to refrain from witchcraft practices saying it retards social and economic development in the country.

In attendance at the meeting was Rolland Kalyalya a witch finder from Siakambala village within Chief Nyawa’s area who discovered the wizards. Mr. Kalyalya testified that he, through his witch finding skill discovered that Mulala and Siatulye were behind the recent death of an infant.
He disclosed that he uses a radio cassette player and a leaf to tell who has committed any crime.

The witch finder disclosed that he managed to discover all the charms in the named suspects’ homes.
Chief Nyawa who could not hide his annoyance said he was saddened at the manner in which the little boy was murdered.

In a similar development, Gideon Siyanyaba another wizard from Chief Nyawa’s Chiefdom confessed and narrated before the chief how he wanted to make his 24 year old daughter Lesi Siyanyaba mad.

Mr. Siyanyaba disclosed that he used to send three ghosts to haunt his daughter so that she could be mad for the rest of her life.

Ms. Lesi Siyanyaba who is married to Webby Matebele became ill in August 2007 and only recovered in October this year after Kalyalya the witch finder was brought to her village.

The wizard testified that his mission came to a halt after Kalyalya came to his house to destroy all the charms he had been using.
Mr. Siyanyaba disclosed that his late uncle who died in 2002 left all his charms with him unknowingly.

He thanked the witch finder for destroying the charms saying he never used to sleep well with his charms around in the house adding that now he is a free person who can spend peaceful nights without problems.

ZANIS

Police have launched investigations into the beating up of an intelligence officer by suspected PF/UPND cadres in Solwezi.

Home Affairs minister, Lameck Mangani, told ZNBC news in an interview that government will not tolerate attacks on security officials on duty.

He said security wings in the country are mandated to protect all politicians including leaders of the opposition.

Mr. Mangani says it is sad that opposition political parties have resorted to attacking officials of security wings assigned to protect them.

He also said government is mandated to protect all leaders of the opposition political parties when they are in public places.

Suspected PF/UPND cadres attacked and assaulted an intelligence officer deployed at their rally in Kapijimpinga area.
[ZNBC]

Katete District Commissioner Elemani Mwanza says the council has with immediate effect banned the cultivation of maize around the Townships.

Mr.Mwanza told ZANIS in an interview that the decision was arrived at following after a consultative meeting with stakeholders.
He said the move was to enable the local Authority curb the rising cases of malaria as the maize fields were proven breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

“Government recognizes the fact that maize cultivation around the township passes as a breeding ground for mosquitoes which we are trying to fight with the In-door Residual Spraying (IRS) to reduce malaria,” he said.

He noted that most people had already planted and that it would be unfair to implement the ban as they do not have alternative places to cultivate.

Recently, the local authority warned of slashing maize grown around the township areas saying the practice would work against the malaria control program of IRS.

ZANIS

A 12 year old grade 5 pupil of Sampa School in Mungwi, was last Friday caught and killed by a crocodile while swimming with a friend in the Chambeshi River.

Mungwi District Commissioner, Fanwell Bwembya confirmed the death of the girl, identified as Doreen Chanda in Mungwi today.

Mr. Bwembya said the body of the girl was retrieved on Saturday morning, after a long search by the police. He added that the body was found without a stomach and had only one intestine left. The girl was later buried at Sampa Village.

Mr. Bwembya appealed to Zambia Wild Life Authority (ZAWA) to quickly move in and reduce the number of crocodiles, whose population has multiplied in the Chambeshi River, before many human lives are lost.

Mr. Bwembya added that the people of Sampa Village cannot avoid Chambeshi River as that is where they draw their drinking water.
He said sinking boreholes in the area would be the best solution.

ZANIS

Chief Nyamphande of the Nsenga people in Petauke district of Eastern Province was at the weekend involved in a road traffic accident that claimed his wife’s life.
The accident happened on Nyamphande road about one and a half kilometers away from the palace. The chief and his deceased wife were returning to the palace from the main business district of Petauke when the accident happened.

The Chief escaped with minor injuries while his wife sustained head injuries and died an hour after the accident.

Chief Nyamphande’s induna for development Michael Daka confirmed the development to ZANIS in an interview at the palace yesterday. He said that the accident happened at about 17:00hrs when the couple was going back home with the deceased driving.

He said the Toyota Cresta registration number AAX 8837 in which they were traveling, went off the road and overturned leaving the Chief in the vehicle while the deceased was thrown out through the windscreen.

Daka said after the accident both the Chief and his wife were rushed to Petauke district hospital where she was pronounced dead and the chief admitted to the intensive care unit. He has since been discharged.

A check by ZANIS at the palace yesterday found mourners gathered.
ZANIS