Lingadzi Police in Lilongwe have arrested a ‘prophetess’, Ethel Chikuwa, 35, and her husband, Maxwell Yohane, 42, for allegedly orchestrating a complex web of deceit involving witchcraft accusations, hoax resurrection and fraud.
The two are accused of targeting a grieving family in Mtandire township with false promises of resurrecting their deceased village headman.
Lingadzi Police Public Relations Officer, Cassim Manda, says in one of the scenarios, the couple had presented an imposter, Chipiliro Mbewe and convinced the family to accept him as their relation despite of his lack of resemblance to any of them.
However, the imposter’s suspicious behaviour, including smoking and excessive drinking, raised concerns within the family, leading them to investigate further, culminating in the arrest of the couple.
Police also rescued two siblings during the arrest, who were victims of the couple’s scheme and had been promised that their father, who passed away after a brief illness, would soon be resurrected.
