By: Danielle L. Cowan (Gwozdz)
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Operator, Africa
DODOMA, Tanzania – Police in Tanzania have arrested and charged twenty-three people for killing seven people for alleged “witchcraft.”
Villagers burned the victims alive.
“They were attacked and burnt to death by a mob of villagers who accused them of engaging in witchcraft,” the western Kigoma region police chief said.
“Five of those killed were aged over 60, while the other two were aged over 40,” he added.
Among those killed was the local traditional doctor, or called the “witch doctor.”
Relatives of those killed described the horrific scenes of their family member who had been killed. These images described members hacked with machetes or burned almost beyond recognition.
“When I returned home in the evening, I found the body of my mother lying 10 meters away from our house, while the body of my father was burnt inside the house,” Josephat John told one newspaper.
A Tanzanian human rights group has estimated that about 500 “suspected witches” are killed in Tanzania annually.
BBC has stated reports between 2005-2011 claim more than 3,000 people have been killed after being accused of witchcraft.
One of the villagers detained for the murder is the village local leader.
The village is now empty. The leader of the Murufiti village told the BBC that “[m]en and women have run away from the village. Even child are not there. . . . Everyone was scared of the event, and others feared police search.”
Among the targeted villagers, it has been claimed that villagers with albinism (“albino”) have been targeted because it is believed that their body parts used for charms can bring good fortune and prosperity.
For more information, please visit:
BBC News – Tanzania arrests 23 over killing of seven ‘witches’ – 10 October 2014
Mail & Guardian – Seven accused of witchcraft burned alive in Tanzania – 10 October 2014
The Frontier Post – Seven witchcraft suspects burned to death in Tanzania – 10 October 2014
iAfrica – Seven burnt for witchcraft – 10 October 2014
news24 – 7 witchcraft suspects burned to death in Tanzania – 10 October 2014
