Witchcraft remains centre stage
30 August 2018 | Crime
The Popular Democratic Movement Youth League (PDMYL) says the manner in which Cheryl Avihe Ujaha's body was mutilated, boiled and discovered with missing parts, points to a cultist or ritualistic killing.
The youth wing also condemned the brutal killing that culminated in Cheryl's maimed corpse being discarded in a riverbed near Staanvas circle in Khomasdal.
“The PDMYL urges the Namibian government to rapidly implement measures to tighten laws pertaining to the operations of traditional healers and radical churches,” said PDMYL secretary-general Benson Katjirijova.
Ujaha, a learner at Gammams Primary School, went missing over the weekend.
According to Katjirijova the persistent violence against women and girls can only be stopped with drastic measures.
“The murder of young Cheryl is particularly sickening because not only was she abducted and murdered, but she was also subjected to the most inhumane treatment from a fellow human being or beings,” he said.
Local gender expert, Ngamane Karuaihe-Upi, said the police should not stop their efforts to track down Cheryl's killer or killers, adding many witchdoctors across Africa are getting away because they are not prosecuted.
He said it is time for the police operating in an African context to look beyond the “gory killings” and get to the bottom of what was happening.
“Our government must also look at encouraging laws that address the conduct of sangomas. We cannot just throw our hands into the air and say it is witchcraft.
“We must do something about it. There was a time when they talked about registering all traditional healers… what happened to that process? Perhaps that will allow us to go to traditional healers and advise them to tell their clients who want to be wealthy to kill a goat instead of a human being,” he said.
Khomas crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Abner Agas, said it is not clear at this stage what the motive was behind Cheryl's murder.
“We are still busy with the investigations,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
The youth wing also condemned the brutal killing that culminated in Cheryl's maimed corpse being discarded in a riverbed near Staanvas circle in Khomasdal.
“The PDMYL urges the Namibian government to rapidly implement measures to tighten laws pertaining to the operations of traditional healers and radical churches,” said PDMYL secretary-general Benson Katjirijova.
Ujaha, a learner at Gammams Primary School, went missing over the weekend.
According to Katjirijova the persistent violence against women and girls can only be stopped with drastic measures.
“The murder of young Cheryl is particularly sickening because not only was she abducted and murdered, but she was also subjected to the most inhumane treatment from a fellow human being or beings,” he said.
Local gender expert, Ngamane Karuaihe-Upi, said the police should not stop their efforts to track down Cheryl's killer or killers, adding many witchdoctors across Africa are getting away because they are not prosecuted.
He said it is time for the police operating in an African context to look beyond the “gory killings” and get to the bottom of what was happening.
“Our government must also look at encouraging laws that address the conduct of sangomas. We cannot just throw our hands into the air and say it is witchcraft.
“We must do something about it. There was a time when they talked about registering all traditional healers… what happened to that process? Perhaps that will allow us to go to traditional healers and advise them to tell their clients who want to be wealthy to kill a goat instead of a human being,” he said.
Khomas crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Abner Agas, said it is not clear at this stage what the motive was behind Cheryl's murder.
“We are still busy with the investigations,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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