Villagers vow to use witchdoctors

Bahi. Despite the recent  ban imposed by the government on traditional healers and witchdoctors,  a cross section of Chimedeli villagers in Bahi District, Dodoma Region,  have vowed never to stop using their services.

They said it has been their long-standing tradition to use services of ‘fortune telling’ witchdoctors, popularly known as ‘Lambalamba’ and that they will continue collecting money to pay the witchdoctors even if the government stood against such practices.

 Speaking at a village meeting recently, they jointly said they cannot live without the services of witchdoctors, appealing to the government not to interfere  with their personal life. “We have for years been using witchdoctors to solve our problems, our lives depend on their services, and therefore, we will keep on seeking their services,” said one of the villagers, Mr Rajabu Mnyampala.

He said district authorities in Bahi will never succeed in stopping them from relying on ‘Lambalamba’ services, adding: “It is very strange, we are willingly using our own money to pay witchdoctors.”

In recent days, ‘fortune telling’ witchdoctors have been visiting villages in Dodoma Region to offer their services,  including exposing witches, a move that has caused conflicts among communities.

The government had earlier this year banned traditional healers and witchdoctors from practicing their services, but in most villages people are still inviting the ‘fortune tellers’.

 On April 18, this year, police arrested one witchdoctor, Blezi Masaka, 22, in Chimedeli Village.

Dodoma Regional Commissioner Chiku Gallawa said the government will ensure that all witchdoctors are arrested, saying their practices were promoting conflicts in communities.

“It’s a shame that villagers are collecting money to pay  witchdoctors; we cannot tolerate such practices,” said the RC.

More than 200 people were arrested recently in a nationwide crackdown on traditional healers and witchdoctors linked to a wave of albino attacks and killings.