March 2007
Solwezi 'Moving Coffins' Worry LRF
By Monica Kunda Tembo
THE Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) in Solwezi has expressed concern at the escalating and continued practice of 'moving coffins' commonly known as Kikondo in Chief Musaka area in Solwezi.
In a letter to Chief Musaka of the Kaonde people dated January 19 2007, Solwezi LRF paralegals stated that they had been informed that a lot of suspected witches had lost their lives through Kikondo.
The paralegals told the chief that it was an offence under the witchcraft Act Cap 90 of the laws of Zambia to be involved in a habit or profession of being a witch finder and that any person found guilty of being engaged in this practice could be fined up to 270,000 penalty units or to imprisonment for the period of two years or both.
The paralegals said the Act ends with a warning that any person who permits, promotes, encourages or facilitates the commission of any act punishable by this Act or any person who knowing of such act or intended act does not forthwith report the same to a police officer, is guilty of an offence and may, if convicted, be imprisoned for two years.
They advised the villagers to use laid down customary laws or report to the police any person that was engaged in witchcraft if they had proof.
They said it was inhuman for people suspected to be involved in witchcraft to be subjected to torture through the beatings from the Kikondo.
The paralegals stated that the practice was inhuman and was against the provision of article 15 in the Constitution of Zambia which seeks to protect people from inhuman and degrading treatment.
They urged the chief to look into the matter or ban the practice as he was the best person to intervene.
According to the Kikondo, the coffin while being carried by pall bearers allegedly directs them to the suspected causer (mainly a suspected witch) and hits the suspect.
When the coffin 'directs the pallbearers' villagers descend on the suspects whom they beat and sometimes they die.
However, the coffin only 'directs' the pallbearers after tradional medicines are administered on it.