Police at Jenda in Mzimba District have arrested Christopher Medi Banda, 56, for conducting a prohibited ordeal and charging a person with witchcraft at Emfeni in Traditional Authority Mabulabo in Mzimba.
Jenda Police’s publicist, Macfarlane Mseteka, says the arrest follows a tip-off from the public.
“A child, one and half year-old, belonging to the family of Ephraim Chirwa, went missing on February 14, in the area. Therefore, family members invited a witchfinder (Medi Banda) to help find the child and he quickly accused a family member of taking the child to Zambia for rituals,” Mseteka said.
This angered some villagers, who assaulted him and wanted to damage his house until the missing child was found dead in a nearby river.
The child is suspected to have drowned when attempting to follow her parents at the farm.
Emfeni Police Unit instituted an investigation and apprehended the suspect and charged him with conducting a trial by ordeal and charging a person with witchcraft against sections 3 and 4 of the Witchcraft Act.
Christopher Medi Banda, who hails from Yolum Village, Traditional Authority Mabulabo in Mzimba District, will be taken to court to answer charges when all paperwork is completed.
