- Mother kills son for muti - Sells his ear
new
A Zimbabwean woman killed her infant son and sold one of his
ears for R76 to a traditional healer wanted for ritual murders in
neighbouring Mozambique, police say.
(....)
July 1, 2010
- Human Body Parts Don't Create Wealth
(....)
Ritual killings have been reported in Mozambique where the
country's Human Rights League has blamed them on the
proliferation of witchdoctors from western Africa.
Authorities have also confirmed that although most of the
organs trafficked in that country are for transplants,
extraction of organs for witchcraft purposes also happens.
Human skin appears to be one of the most sought-after things
by ritual killers in Africa.
During the early 2000s, there were widespread cases of
people being killed and skinned in Mbeya region of Tanzania
and Mwiki outskirts of Nairobi. Investigations by the media
and police revealed there was a high demand for human skin
in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa where it fetched
$2,400 (Sh180,000) to $9,600 (Sh180,000) depending on the
age of the victim.
(...)
September 17, 2009
- Trafficking Body Parts in Mozambique and South Africa
A shocking report of the Southern Africa Network against Trafficking
and Abuse of Chilldren (SANTAC)
on muti murders, the killing of people and the use of their body
parts in traditional African medicine.
Excerpts from interviews:
“He grabs me on the neck, I tried to loose myself but I couldn’t. So
then he took his knife and
started cutting me. Then I fainted” (young man attacked for his
genital organs, Niassa
province, Mozambique)
“It is true that people become rich after a traditional treatment
with human organs”
(Traditional Healer, Manica Province, Mozambique)
“They say the treatments with genital organs only work if they are
taken from a person alive
and not dead” (Customs Official, Sofala province, Mozambique)
“The murderer cut her throat like she was a goat. He cut her head
just like that, and removed
her genital organs, leaving all the rest” (Police Officer, Cabo
Delgado Province,
Mozambique)
“The Police searched and found that she was carrying genital organs
of adult men […] I
don’t know how many exactly, it was several. But they were from
adult men, I saw them
myself” (Female Stall holder at Ressano Garcia, Mozambique/South
African border)
2008 (pdf-file)
- 'Witchcraft arrest' - murder and mutilation of seven women
and a child in Cabo Delgado province
The Mozambican authorities say three people are under police
detention for their alleged involvement in trafficking of human body
parts. The case involves this week's murder and mutilation of seven
women and a child in Cabo Delgado province.
Murder, mutilation and exhuming human bones for witchcraft have
become a common practice, particularly in the country's northern and
central regions. Items are sold in neighbouring Malawi, South Africa
and Zimbabwe.
(...)
This is not the first time that murder cases of people for the
extraction of body parts has occurred in Mocimboa da Praia and
elsewhere in the province.
The first case was reported last year and two people were detained
for allegedly killing nine people. But the police later released one
of them for unexplained reasons.
(...)
Murder and trafficking of human beings and parts have been reported
in many parts of Mozambique.
(...)
August 2, 2007
- Body parts, including sexual organs, are commonly used in may parts
of Mozambique in traditional rituals believed to bring good fortune
and wealth.
Last month police in Nampula police detained 14 people after body
parts and organs were found in a house, apparently for use in
witchcraft.
May
5, 2004
- A Brazilian nun has been found dead in Mozambique after some of
her colleagues said they had exposed an organ trafficking network.
"Several countries are involved in this iniquitous game and the
victims are the poor, those who have no voice or defence, or the
strength to defend themselves, we are convinced that Nampula is part
of an international ring," order spokeswoman Sister Juliana told
Portuguese radio earlier this month.
She said there have been several attempts to abduct children from
the orphanage they run in Nampula.
February 27, 2004
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Mozambique, like most African states, has serious problems
from certain aspects of its culture – the growth in witchcraft and human
sacrifice - that appear to inhibit its impressive growth. The growth of
such negative cultural practices over the years show that Mozambique and
other African states are yet to have holistic grasp of their cultural
values, positive or negative, that drive their development. Such
features are not factored in when developing policies, bureaucratizing,
and consultancies. It is, therefore, not surprising that the BBC (2
August 2007) reports that “murder, mutilation and exhuming human bones
for witchcraft have become a common practice, particularly in the
country's northern and central regions. Items are sold in neighbouring
Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe.” Such worrying practices occur
against the backdrop, paradoxically, of growing economy and poverty
remaining widespread and Mozambique still heavily dependent on donor aid
- and subject to the whims and caprices of conditions attached to such
assistance.
August 5, 2007
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