13 July 2009
KITWE Town Clerk Ali Simwinga has joined the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in condemning the attack of a mother and her daughter who were severely beaten by a mob in Kitwe on suspicion of practising witchcraft.
Mr Simwinga said the beating up of the mother and her daughter by the mob was a barbaric act, which should not be tolerated in modern culture and a Christian nation like Zambia.
Last week, a mother and her daughter in Kitwe were severely beaten by a mob on suspicion of practicing witchcraft and one of them has since died.
In an interview in Kitwe yesterday, Mr Simwinga said Zambia was a Christian nation which should not allow inhuman and barbaric acts to be perpetrated.
Mr Simwinga has since urged the civil society to condemn such acts in various quarters of society, saying keeping quiet would encourage perpetrators to continue with their primitive activities.
"As town clerk, I was shocked to hear that a mob severely beat up a mother and her daughter for allegedly practising witchcraft. It was really sad, especially that one of them died. The act was barbaric, inhuman and primitive which should not be encouraged in a Christian nation like Zambia.
"I strongly feel this behaviour should be condemned by the civil society and other Zambians because it is sending wrong signals to our children and the next generation," he said.
And Mr Simwinga has urged Kitwe residents not to engage in activities that may promote hatred and divisions in their areas, but strive to work together in addressing various challenges and problems facing the city.
He said the city was facing a lot of challenges and problems that needed concerted efforts from residents and other stakeholders.
He said the local authority was eager to work with residents to address the problems and challenges facing the city, but was disappointed that some residents were only interested in castigating the council without providing solutions.
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