THE Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has commended the collective solidarity demonstrated by both the government and citizens following the tragic murder of Eneless Hellen Kamutumbe.
Kamutumbe is a mother of six, who was brutally killed by a mob at kisasa market in Kalumbila district over allegations of witchcraft.
CCZ General Secretary, Fr James Phiri re-affirmed that such barbaric acts have no place in a christian nation like Zambia.
Fr Phiri said such acts only dent the identity of the country.
“It is deeply unfortunate that members of the public resorted to venting their frustrations on an innocent citizen.
“We are reminded in Scripture that, ‘So God created mankind in his own image” (Genesis 1:27), a powerful affirmation that every human life carries God-given dignity and must be treated with respect. We therefore ask: where has our sense of humanity and dignity gone?” he said.
Fr Phiri further commended the swift and timely action taken by law enforcement agencies in bringing the perpetrators and all those who fueled the gruesome act to justice.
He advised citizens to let the incident serve as a solemn warning about the grave consequences of taking the law into our own hands.
He said the continued pockets of witchcraft-related superstition need to come to an end.
He said claims that certain individuals lose private body parts after contact with others are entirely false and misleading.
“Even in situations involving suspicion, there are designated professionals and lawful investigative procedures mandated to handle such matters thoroughly and responsibly,” Fr Phiri said.
He added that the incident has demonstrated the importance of responding swiftly and decisively to acts of lawlessness in the country.
By Sanfrossa Mberi
Kalemba March 25, 2026
