LUSAKA (Reuters) – Zambia police said on Tuesday four suspects have been arrested in connection with a string of grisly ritual murders in the southern African nation’s capital that triggered anti-foreign riots targeting mostly Rwandan migrants in April.
The arrested suspects are two army soldiers, a civilian employee of the Zambian Air Force and a traditional doctor, police said. They were to appear in court Tuesday afternoon charged with seven counts of murder.
“All the murders which the accused have been charged with were committed in a similar manner by crushing the left side of the head, removing body parts and later dumping the deceased near their homes,” police said in a statement.
Police said in April that the victims had ears, hearts and genitals removed, raising suspicion of ritual killings.
Human body parts are sometimes used in traditional remedies and concoctions in southern Africa. The practice is linked to witchcraft beliefs.
Zambia hosts thousands of refugees from neighboring countries, especially Rwanda and Burundi, but relations between the communities are usually peaceful.
(Reporting by Chris Mfula; Writing by Ed Stoddard; Editing by James Macharia)
The leaders of the Jesus film are celebrating the fact a witch has renounced their previous life and came to Christ because of the movie.
Alex Mbewe was showing the movie to a village in Zambia. A witch came into the event, furious that they were showing the movie to the residents. Witnesses say that she summoned a demon that flipped over the table holding the film equipment and terrified the audience.
Alex and his group wouldn’t be swayed by the witch.
“Lord, You own all the creation in heaven and on earth. Everything on earth belongs to You, and we believe this ground also belongs to You. We are very confident that the show tomorrow will be the source of salvation for many in this area,” Alex and his team prayed.
The group played the movie the next day.
The witch showed up.
And the witch was one of 600 people who accepted Christ as Lord.
The witch told the Jesus team that over the last few nights she had been taunted in her dreams but a beast that would drag her toward a pool of fire. As the beast went to throw her in, he said she was going to hell because she didn’t respond to the message of truth in the village.
She joined a church with 83 members that was planted in the village. She recently passed away so she accepted Christ before it was too late.
