Sijwa village in the Zambezi region was rocked by tragedy this week after a 40-year-old man allegedly killed his brother-in-law, accusing him of witchcraft.
Regional police spokesperson Inspector Kisco Sitali confirmed the incident, which took place on Tuesday evening. According to him, the victim, identified as Mafenyeho, was attacked while asleep in a homestead courtyard after consuming traditional beer.
“The suspect entered the yard armed with an axe and struck the deceased, claiming that the man had bewitched his sister, who died by suicide last month,” Inspector Sitali explained.
Following the attack, the suspect fled the scene but was later tracked down by police at his home in Kandiyana village, in the Choi area. Officers reportedly found him in possession of the axe believed to have been used in the killing, and he was immediately arrested.
Mafenyeho’s remains were transported to the Katima Mulilo State Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted.
The incident has left the Sijwa community shaken, as grief over the recent loss of the suspect’s sister has now been compounded by yet another death in the family. Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.
