Of witchcraft, economy and elections year

If witchery ‘services’ that Tanzania witchdoctors purport to export to cities across East Africa would be added to the balance of trade, I’m sure we would not be doing too badly economically.

These undertake their trade in such cities as Nairobi, Kampala, Bujumbura and Kigali. In small print adverts they post on road sides in those cities, you will often come across such expressions as ‘Mganga kutoka Tanga’ or ‘Mganga kutoka Sumbawanga’, meaning a witchdoctor from Tanga or Sumbawanga. In places like Bagamoyo or the coastal towns in Tanzania, they are also known as ‘wataalamu’ (specialists).

The witchdoctors from the named places are feared and thought to possess super magical powers. They are likened to their Nigerian counterparts. Legends have it that, some past president from a neighbouring country even had a personal witchdoctor for consultation purposes. Where do you imagine he came from? Tanzania!

When its electioneering year, it is widely said that some aspirants to elective posts in this region do visit calls these ‘experts’ in Tanzania, believing that the powers of these hosts possess would help them win. Strange as it sounds, but this is happening right in our midst!

So, now that 2015 is elections year in Tanzania, witchdoctors prepare to reap handsomely businesswise. This is because some aspirants will be heading to these witchdoctors’ abodes to seek powers to make them win.

The manner in which witchdoctors conduct their trade leaves many questions unanswered. Are they registered? How come most of those visiting them do so secretly? Looking at the quality of what they call houses, one wonders how come they claim to possess so much power while themselves live in abject poverty. They are simply so different from registered traditional healers or herbalists. It’s unfortunate that some witches and wizards camouflage as herbalists.

Early this month, the government passed a ban against all witchdoctors. The push comes from allegations that they are linked to the killings of people with albinism. Between 2004 and now, about 70 people with albinism have been killed for their body parts, which witchdoctors claim can empower people to get whatever they want. Pure crap! Reacting, Tanzania Albinism Society cautioned that the ban was not enough. It argued that the real buyers of the albino body parts are yet to be arrested. The society also questioned whether the ban was really practical, as some government officials are ‘great’ customers of the very same witchdoctors. Will they enforce it?

Our people must be educated on why they need to stay clear of these witchdoctors, who are nothing more but thieves.

People must learn to find answers to their problems through scientific means – reasoning.

They say ignorance is bliss. Leo Igwe, a Nigerian human rights advocate and humanist notes that traditionally, Africans attributed anything they did not understand, any incident they could not explain, to witchcraft. “Also people attribute to witchcraft issues or ‘forces’ for which they are not contented with their rational or commonsensical explanations,” he notes.

Witchdoctors often give big promises like being able to deal with all diseases/problems including HIV/Aids, cancers, infertility, and stroke.

They claim to possess powers to make people secure jobs, win elections or favour with their bosses. It’s too bad that some people fall for this crap. Imagine a person leaving hospital so as to go to a witchdoctor; you just wonder what the problem is with him.

East Africa must wake up. The only way to end the ‘witchery services’ is by refusing to pay for them. Orders will remain orders, but it’s action that will make what we want to happen.

Remember, if you think your life is nothing without a witchdoctor, you are wrong; God is everything in our life, so let’s depend on Him, and everything will be alright!

Saumu Jumanne is an assistant lecturer, Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE)