RUNDU –- Government on Wednesday deported an Angolan traditional healer following numerous complaints from the public about his questionable practices that may have led to the death of a local pastor.

The healer Adao Dinis charged his clients between N$3 000 and N$10 000 per consultation and those who did not have money could pay by means of livestock.

During one of his healing sesssions, Dinis told community members that the pastor of the village congregation, Samaria Mukuve, was responsible for the deaths of several community members by bewitching them. He then ordered the pastor to undress himself in public and confess and apologize to his fellow villagers.

A few days later, the man of God committed suicide because of the public humiliation and because his fellows regarded him as a “witch doctor”.

Following his arrest on September 24, Dinis (37) was held in police custody until his appearance before the local tribunal court on Wednesday in Rundu that sealed his fate.

The tribunal court, chaired by Nestor Mufenda, ordered the deportation of the traditional healer who was popular among villagers who were in awe of his ‘healing powers’. Dinis was deported after the tribunal court hearing. Most villagers allegedly made use of his services to identify those ‘casting spells’ on others by means of witchcraft.

He was arrested at Mile 30 village outside Rundu while conducting healing sessions without a working permit.

Traditional healers are said to be raking in thousands of dollars through their secretive healing activities. While government fights to keep uncensored traditional healers out of the country some traditional authorities usually have other ambitions and often enlist the services of healers.

Dinis told the tribunal court he entered the country following an invitation from Mbunza Traditional Authority Chief Alfons Kaundu who assisted him to secure the necessary residence documents.

Chief immigration officer and secretary of the tribunal court, Kashembe Mundia-Euphrasia, told New Era that Dinis was warned in the past not to conduct his activities without a work permit.

“The traditional healer was only granted a visitor’s permit when he entered the country, therefore we arrested him because he contravened the country’s laws by working here without the required paperwork. We told him in the past to leave the country because he does not have a work permit, but according to him (Dinis), Hompa Kaundu invited him to come and conduct healing in the Mbunza community,” said Mundia-Euphrasia.

In January, Ukwangali Traditional Authority Chief Daniel Sitentu Mpasi granted Dinis a consent letter that allowed him to operate within the areas under the jurisdiction of the traditional authority, even without a work permit.

“I Daniel Sitentu Mpasi the Chief of the Ukwangali Traditional Authority declare that Adao Dinis is a trustworthy and hardworking traditional healer. He is permitted to do his job in the Ukwangali community for the duration of six months,” said Mpasi in the signed letter.

The Traditional Healing Bill is yet to be gazetted.

Two Zimbabwean nationals will also be deported after the tribunal court granted a deportation order for their eviction.

“These guys come to Namibia saying they will be selling Zimbabwean products but then they end up buying goods in Oshikango from the Chinese which they then come and resell here in Rundu,” Mundia-Euphrasia said. He said there is need to regulate traditional healers as they have the potential to bring “chaos” in the country.

“People can kill each other because of these healers, even family members can turn against each other because the healers claim to identify people who are bewitching others,” he said.

Contacted for comment on the matter yesterday, Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Namibia, Gaob Immanuel ≠Nu-axa /Gaseb condemned traditional healing practices around the country and called on all traditional leaders to ban traditional healers within their jurisdiction.

“Traditional healers these days are nothing but crooks. I do not trust them and urge all traditional leaders not to allow them in the community,” charged /Gaseb.

/Gaseb noted that traditional healing in the modern world is merely a money-making scheme. “In the past being a traditional healer was a gift from God, but today anyone can be a traditional healer,” he said.

The deputy chairperson called on government to ban the entry of traditional healers into the country. “People have different cultures, so why do we need foreign traditional healers who know nothing about our culture to come into our country and torment our communities,” charged /Gaseb.

 

By Mathias Haufiku