Zambia news: Continuing witchcraft practice haunts Gwembe health workers

Zambia’s Gwembe district health promotions officer, Masuzyo Mwanza said that Makuyu health workers in the district are spending days in fear for the last four months due to alleged witchcraft practices at the clinic.

Masuzyo Mwanza recently spoke during the meeting held at the Makuyu clinic arranged by the district promotional task force and the community, where he said that the matter concerning the witchcraft in the locality is going on since September 2018.

He also said to the community that there is no reason for the (community) members to be attacking the health workers at the facility as they are there to save their lives. He further opined that if the health workers continue working in fear, their service delivery will be affected due to lack of adequate sleep and peace of mind, Lusaka Times noted.

“Practicing witchcraft should come to an end especially that many people are now Christians,” Justus Phiri, Gwembe District Commissioner said at the event. He is also the chairperson for the district health promotion task force.

According to Phiri, the witchcraft will never bring prosperity to the area and community. He elaborated that if the practices of witchcraft continue and attacks on the health workers does not come to an end, they may contemplate to leave the facility and the entire community will consequently suffer.

John Simwanza, District Director of Health also raised his voice at the event against the witchcraft practices saying that it is very disappointing that Makuyu community has started threatening the lives of the health workers and yet they were recently requesting for a health facility in the area.