Heaven fines fake Milenge witch doctor

THE Milenge Local Court has fined a fake witch doctor for defamation of character.

Before Presiding Magistrate Heaven Chimpandu was Bernadette Kanchule, 33, of Chisensa village in Chief Sokontwe’s area who sued Josephine Kasonkoma of the same area for having told people that she caused Chama’s illness.

ZANIS reports that Kanchule narrated that Chama, Kasonkomona’s daughter, was sick and when she visited her mother who is a witch doctor, she was told that Kanchule was responsible for her spiritual attacks.

“Chama followed me to my place and told me her mother said the ghost of my late husband was what was attacking her because I was not cleansed after his death. Kasonkomona, the witch doctor, said the ghost sleeps with Chama at night that is why she was ever tired,” she said.

Kanchule testified that she wanted a second opinion hence she and Chama decided to visit another witch doctor who charged them K600 and they shared the cost. 

“I was vindicated when the other witch doctor said it was not my late husband’s ghost that was attacking Chama but rather someone else who is alive,” she said.

While in the docket, Kasonkomona started doing incantations, “We can’t speak here. We are going back. They are speaking English here. We are going back ku Lubemba,” she chanted in Swahili and Bemba.

The court session was suspended at 10:00 hours and Kasonkoma was taken outside, it was only resumed at 14:00 hours when she calmed down.

Kasonkoma admitted to having accused Kanchule of causing Chama’s illness.

“I did say Kanchule’s ghost was attacking my daughter but it was a lie your honour,” she stated.

In his judgment, Magistrate Chimpandu ordered Kasonkomona to pay Kanchule K800.

Magistrate Chimpandu explained that the K300 was a refund for the money the plaintiff paid the second witch doctor while K500 was for having tarnished her image in the village.

Credit: ZANIS