CATHOLIC PRIEST CONDEMNS BEATING OF WITCHCRAFT SUSPECTS
MAPULA Catholic Parish Priest John Fulele in Milenge District has cautioned youths in the church against involving themselves in beating up witchcraft suspects.
Speaking when he addressed young people during a youth camp, Fr. Fulele said the habit of beating up witchcraft suspects after they are located by a coffin of the deceased should not be condoned.
Fr. Fulele explained that the act of making charms so that the coffin of the deceased can locate the suspected killer is a common practice in most parts of Milenge and church members should desist from such acts.
He noted that what is more saddening is that most of the people who are in the forefront whenever such activities are taking place are the youths and among them Catholics.
Fr. Fulele indicated that such activities are not just inhuman but they have the potential to continue dividing the community as people will be suspecting each other of witchcraft acts thereby subjecting those suspects to severe beating and in some instances even being killed.
“Some of you will be arrested by the police and end up spending your entire lives in prison because killing someone on suspicion of witchcraft is illegal,” he noted.
“If one of our relatives has passed away, there is nothing that we can do to bring them back apart from just praying for them to rest in eternal peace,” he said.
Fr. Fulele observed that if such activities in the area continue, it will be difficult to develop the area as most people will be shunning to come and invest hence it will continue to lag behind.
In some parts of Luapula Province there is a ritual which is practiced called (Ichitaleme) where some charms are made so that the coffin of the deceased can move pallbearers to locate whoever is suspected to be involved in the death of the person.
The community members end up beating those who are located by the coffin and others have even been beaten to the point of death.