With a high-profile court case attracting national – and international – attention, TONNY ONYULO reports on how some church leaders are responding to the issue of witchcraft…
Kenya, Nairobi
“I passionately urge Christians across our nation to shine the light of Christ in our communities, just as He has transformed our hearts,” Catholic Bishop Edwin Mwansa Mulandu, of the Diocese of Mpika, in northern Zambia, told Sight recently.
“Let us boldly demonstrate that those who once walked in darkness have truly encountered a great and transformative light.”
Skyline of Lusaka, capital of Zambia, in an undated picture: PICTURE: Africadventures/Shutterstock
Bishop Mulandu is among a number of church leaders in Zambia who are speaking out against witchcraft, urging Christians to “spread light and help” to rescue the country from the “forces of darkness”.
Catholic Bishop Edwin Mwansa Mulandu. PICTURE: Supplied.
“Christians do not believe in the power of darkness, and it’s very shameful that some people are believing in it. I encourage church leaders and ministers to guide Christians and others away from such beliefs and to embrace the teachings of Christ.”
– Catholic Bishop Edwin Mwansa Mulandu
Other Christian leaders in Zambia who have publicly spoken out against witchcraft at recent gatherings include Catholic Archbishop Ignatius Chama, of the Archdiocese of Kasama, Pastor Pardon Mwansa, of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Fr Kennedy Kashinga, of the Milenge Catholic Parish.
According to estimates from the Zambia Statistics Agency, 95.5 per cent of the 20.7 million people in Zambia identifies as Christian, with 75.3 per cent being Protestant and 20.2 per cent Roman Catholic.
The issue of witchcraft in the southern African nation is a multi-faceted and contentious issue deeply embedded in the nation’s cultural and social fabric.
Many Zambians firmly believe in the reality of witchcraft, associating it with a wide range of social and spiritual challenges. The beliefs and practices related to witchcraft are diverse. While some perceive it as a perilous and harmful force, many others embrace it as a legitimate avenue for traditional healing and spiritual connection.
The calls from church leaders come following the arrest in December last year of two men for allegedly attempting to bewitch the country’s President, Hakainde Hichilema. The two men were charged under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act with possession of charms, claiming to possess knowledge of witchcraft, and cruelty to wild animals. The case is still before the court.
The Witchcraft Act in Zambia imposes strict penalties for those who engage in witchcraft and holds chiefs or headmen accountable for promoting such harmful practices.
First passed in 1914, the Act defines witchcraft as practices such as throwing bones, using charms, or employing any other means associated with sorcery. Offences can result in fines or imprisonment, depending on the severity of the violation.
The Act states: “Every person professing to be able to control, by non-natural means, the course of nature or using any subtle craft, means, or device through witchcraft, charms, or otherwise to deceive or impose upon any other person shall be liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred penalty units or to imprisonment not exceeding two years.”
Additionally, the law prohibits the practices of witchdoctors and witch finders. As a result, many practitioners cleverly rebrand themselves as herbalists, avoiding the law’s reach. Furthermore, there are serious penalties for anyone who claims knowledge of witchcraft, consults on its matters, employs or solicits individuals for witchcraft-related activities, or possesses charms.
Bishop Mulandu strongly criticised certain media outlets for spreading harmful messages that undermine faith rather than bolster it. He emphasised that it is particularly alarming that these negative narratives are being propagated by educated individuals from urban centres like Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.
“Christians do not believe in the power of darkness, and it’s very shameful that some people are believing in it. I encourage church leaders and ministers to guide Christians and others away from such beliefs and to embrace the teachings of Christ,” he said.
Evangelist Charles Michelo said he has been actively sharing the Gospel in villages and towns across the country that are affected by witchcraft. He leads multiple Bible studies each week to teach residents about the word of God and conducts Sunday worship services, encouraging people to reject belief in witchcraft.
“The situation in our country is so dire that when someone falls ill, people often choose to take the patient to witchdoctors instead of seeking help from medical professionals, as there are few doctors available,” said Michelo, who is a member of the Revival Pentecostal Church of Zambia. “Unfortunately, this often leads to the patient’s death, which is tragic. The belief in witchcraft has been passed down through generations, often without people even realising it.”
A statue of Jesus in a small park in Lusaka, Zambia, on 2015. PICTURE: Tatsiana Hendzel/Shutterstock
Evangelist Michelo noted that societal problems such as death, poverty, lack of financial resources, children not attending school, and women being unable to bear children are all linked to witchcraft. In response, neighbours often blame each other for practicing witchcraft, leading to conflict and harm among community members.
The most severe form of witchcraft, he said, is when practitioners engage in ritual killings, resulting in the disappearance of children or individuals with unique features, such as albinos, who become victims of human sacrifice. These acts, he added, are often driven by those seeking talismans made from body parts.
“Three years ago, I started a church in my village near Lusaka to combat the belief in witchcraft that had taken hold of the community,” he said. “This belief had a significant impact; many residents abandoned their homes out of fear of being harmed by witchcraft.”
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Some, however, dispute their claims and say that witchcraft was not inherently bad and only becomes so when used to bewitch or injure someone or instil fear. They also say that witchdoctors are more effective than police at enforcing law and order.
Alex Mvula, a herbalist based in Lusaka, points to the high level of poverty in Zambia – reported now at 64.3 per cent of the population, rising from 54.4 per cent in 2015.
“People are suffering, and they need a solution to understand the reasons behind their suffering,” said Mvula. “They can provide real answers to your problems, which is what everyone living on this Earth needs.”
Other observers have warned that the government’s crackdown on witchdoctors, along with the intensified campaigns by religious leaders against the practice of witchcraft, could undermine freedom of worship in the country.
“I don’t believe people should be forced or coerced into choosing whom to believe or worship when it comes to matters of spirituality,” advised Sarah Mbewe, a religious teacher in Lusaka. “The only responsibility of the government should be to protect its citizens from harm that may arise from such practices, including the cutting of body parts and murder.”
“People are confused about whom to worship,” Mbewe said. “Many are visiting witchdoctors for help while also attending church to worship God. This duality is why some religious leaders are unhappy. However, they should allow individuals to make their own choices about where to go for assistance.”
The Great East Road in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, seen in this image on 30th January, 2021. PICTURE: Africadventures/Shutterstock
Many Christian leaders, however, believe that through the Gospel, they can eliminate the belief in witchcraft, which they say has caused many residents to live in poverty and be controlled by forces of darkness.
“My village was transformed after receiving the Gospel, and I have been spreading this message, which I believe will change our communities,” said Michelo.
Bishop Mulandu added: “By spreading light throughout our country, we can liberate our people from the misconceptions of witchcraft, a practice that is not only barbaric but also spiritually crippling for our community.”
