80-year-old woman of Kaputa murdered

An 80-year-old woman of Sichembe village in Mwawe Ward, Kaputa district has allegedly been axed to death by her grandson. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon when the suspect allegedly attacked the elderly woman with an axe at her home on suspicion of witchcraft. Sichembe Village Headman Abiston Musali has confirmed the incident to the media in Kaputa, stating that the suspect was apprehended by the police yesterday.

“I met the suspect when I was on my way to the crime scene and he told me that he had axed his grandmother, ” said Musali. Mr Musali said he notified the police after confirming the incident upon reaching the scene of the incident. He said that the suspect accused the deceased of practicing witchcraft even though no such accusation has been heard before.

”He said the grandmother would finish all the family members, so he had to kill her before that happens,” Mr Musali said. The traditional leader said the suspect, only identified as Kaputo, aged 17 was staying with his recently deceased mother and the grandmother he allegedly killed. Mr Musali said such acts have no place in his village or anywhere else in Zambia, saying this is lawlessness.

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He condemned the killing and called for increased awareness to address harmful beliefs surrounding witchcraft accusations, particularly those targeting elderly people. The body has since been taken to Kaputa District Hospital mortuary.

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