KILLER WITCHDOCTOR IN COURT
Written by Millennium on August 16, 2019
ENOCK KADEMAUNGA writes
A WITCHDOCTOR who allegedly raped and murdered a woman who was seeking his services yesterday appeared in the Lusaka Magistrate court on one count of murder.
In this matter, Abu Hussen Ibrahim Phiri, 28, of Kabangwe area is jointly charged with Saviour Daka, 28, unemployed on one count of murder.
It is alleged that on July 12, the two allegedly murdered Clare Namutenda.
Phiri and Daka appeared before Lusaka Magistrate Martha Miti for explanation of charge.
After understanding the charge, the two were later informed that they will not take plea because the matter can only be tried in the High Court.
Ms Miti said the two would however continue to appear for mention awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecution to commit the suspects to the High Court for trial.
The matter has been adjourned to August 20, for mention.
Allegations in that matter are that Phiri and Daka lured the unsuspecting client, Namutenda, 42, a wife of a senior military officer, to the graveyard using her own motor vehicle to perform some rituals.
But on arriving at the cemetery, the two raped her, bludgeoned her to death, gouged one of her eyes and sped away with her motor vehicle which they had used to go to the graveyard.
A police officer at the scene said the victim was found naked and that it was believed that she was raped before she was murdered.
And according to Police spokesperson Esther Katongo, a report of a missing person was made at Chilenje Police Station by a Zambia National Service colonel, Maybin Mundengo, of Chalala in Lusaka that his wife, Namutenda, had been missing.
Ms Namutenda had told her husband that she was going to attend night prayers at an unknown church.
Police launched investigations during which two suspects, a foreign traditional healer of Kabangwe, and his colleague, a Zambian were arrested.
Ms Katongo identified the suspects as Abu Hussen Phiri, 28, and Saviour Daka, also aged 28.
