Police say village headman Benito under Traditional Authority Katunga in Chikwawa has been found murdered and in a decomposed state in a nearby graveyard on Monday.
According to the deceased elder brother, Mafunga Benito, the traditional leader aged 34 left home on 15 March to seek the witchdoctor’s services in the neighbouring Chikhambi village.
He had been instructed by his friend to fortify himself against witchcraft.
” It is alleged that the traditional leader had belief that some of his subjects were bewitching,” said the district’s police spokesperson Foster Benjamin.
Benjamin continued to say, “Against this belief, Benito set out on his journey while aboard his motorcycle.
“He had since never returned until Monday when he was found dead by a group of gravediggers.
“The gravediggers were preparing a burial for another villager.”
It is reported a foul smell that filled the cemetery got the gravediggers surprised and discovering their village head lying in a decomposed state.
Police visited the scene where they noticed a bottle of charms beside the slain chief.
His motorcycle was missing.
Police have since started searching for the assailants.
