Police in Mangochi are hunting for an unknown herbalist suspected of murdering a 12 year – old boy identified as Duncan Ronald, Malawi News Agency (Mana) has learnt.

Mangochi Police Assistant Public Relations Officer, Amina Daudi told the Malawi News Agency in an interview that the incident happened on June 5, 2016 at Salanje Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chowe in the district.

“It has been discovered that five months ago unknown criminals stole goats belonging to the deceased’s father whose search proved futile, therefore on 5th June, this year the herbalist offered to help by promising the family to perform some magic in order to recover the stolen goats,” Daudi said.

“And at around 7 PM on the same day, the herbalist prepared and administered his charms then commanded the whole family (father, mother and two sons) to take the concoction whereby a few minutes later after taking the medication all of them started vomiting profusely,” she added.

Daudi said upon seeing the developments, the herbalist abandoned the family on the pretext that he was going to buy airtime at a nearby shop but never returned.

She pointed out that all four victims were rushed to Mangochi District Hospital where the deceased died while receiving treatment in the early hours of June 6, 2016.

The assistant police publicist also said the father and his elder son were also admitted to the hospital and that they were recuperating. The mother was treated as an out – patient.

Daudi said postmortem conducted at the hospital revealed that death was due to poisoning and that police investigations are underway to trace the herbalist’s whereabouts.mana