Police at Jenda have arrested group village headman Paul Chipokosa Chirwa aged 71, village headman Christopher Chirwa, 66, village headman Yolamu Chirwa aged 52 and 18 villagers for allegedly charging two people with witchcrafts and stealing the two people’s property worth K1.1 million.
It is alleged that between the month of August and September this year the group village headman Chipokosa Chirwa together with his people employed a witchfinder from Zambia after charging Jessi Chirwa and Bernard Chirwa with witchcraft.
It has also been established that these people stole money and three bags of maize from Jessi Chirwa valued at K468,000 and also stole money and destroyed Bernard Chirwa’s property valued at K750,000.
During the night of October 22, 2023 police went to arrest them but they managed to run away after they were alerted by the man who was arrested first when he shouted out loud.
In the morning of the following day, men from the whole village ganged up to torch Jenda Police Station and rescue their relative who was arrested during the raid claiming he was innocent. However, the police were able to subdue them and they were all arrested.
Apart from managing unlawful society which is against section 64 of the penal code, the group village headman and his subordinates are also answering other charges such as charging a person with witchcraft, employing a witchfinder, theft, malicious damage and being present at a trial by ordeal and they will appear before court in due course.
Jenda police have warned chiefs and their people that police will not tolerate any act of violence towards the elderly within its policing area as well as tendencies of destroying government property through mob justice.
The group village headman Paul Chipokosa Chirwa and his people come from Traditional Authority Mzikubola in Mzimba district.
