Witchcraft: Researchers Conduct Study on Beliefs

A TEAM of researchers at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), in collaboration with human rights organisations are conducting a two-year study, seeking a scientific explanation enabling a reduction in harmful actions tied to witchcraft beliefs.

Dr Richard Sambaiga, a senior lecturer and project coordinator at the department of Sociology and Anthropology in UDSM explained the work is being done in collaboration with the African –Caribbean Institute, a small research outfit linked with the department based in Norwich, Vermont in eastern USA.

“The research project is designed with the purpose of attracting results that will lead to reducing or containing harm rising from witchcraft beliefs. The project shall facilitate the setting up of a database, library collections and a witchcraft resource website,”

he was quoted saying.

Prof Christine Noe Pallangyo, at the College of Social Sciences (UDSM), on the other hand, explained that there is a shortage of scientific research, which is an obstacle to social economic development.

“The research, upon its completion will provide scientific evidence about witchcraft that enables formulation of policies to combat incidents of murder attributed to witchcraft suspicions,”

she said.

Tanzania experiences grim consequences by the entrenchment of witchcraft in the country including social exclusion, expulsion and even murder of alleged witches.

Witchcraft has a long history in East African countries. The practice has been there centuries ago as a way to understand natural disasters, infertility and death. Marginalized groups including the elderly, ill or albinos are especially in danger.

A report by the University of Dar es Salaam stated that it is too strong to be eliminated through the law.  The researches propose a different solution through mass scientific education.

Although there are no specific data on numbers, over the past decade, witchcraft has been linked to young girls and boys being raped or injured, sometimes killed. Children living with albinism have been particularly targeted.

According to UNICEF, between July 2018 and February 2019, there were 13 cases of rape against children-all girls under the age of ten years in the mining area of Matundas Ward, in Chunya District, Mbeya Region resulting in two deaths, including a three year old and a six year old. The rape cases were linked to witchcraft activities.

The Witchcraft Act of 2002 stipulates that witchcraft includes sorcery, enchantment, bewitching, the use of instruments of witchcraft, the alleged use of magical or supernatural powers and the alleged possession of any supernatural beliefs and knowledge.

Anyone found guilty of exercising witchcraft with the intent of causing harm, death, fear or misfortune to people can be sentenced to seven years imprisonment or more.

The government recognizes the seriousness of witchcraft as a social problem yet it has to formulate an explicit strategy for dealing with the problem relying on colonial legal instruments in attempting to come to grips with the intriguing phenomenon.

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