WINDHOEK – The police have warned members of the public to be aware of fake traditional healers who give their patients intoxicating cocktails.
Inspector Christina van Dunem Dafonsech informed New Era on Monday that these healers charge from N$10 000 upwards to give their patients concoctions of Mandrax and marijuana, among others.
When the patients get “high” they are informed their family members had bewitched them.
Dafonsech said this happens all over Windhoek but it was more prevalent in the informal settlements.
She said most of the bogus healers are Zimbabweans.
The inspector says 17 families have so far come to her office complaining of being accused of having bewitched someone.
The police are looking for one Joseph Khumalo, but Dafonsech added she was not sure if that is his real name.
Khumalo stands accused of giving a concoction of Mandrax and marijuana to his clients.
Patients who allegedly go to Khumalo if their alcohol was stolen from bars will then be given medicine mixed with drugs and be informed that their family members bewitched them.
She further cautioned women to be more careful if they go to traditional healers to have their vaginas apparently tightened as some herbs are apparently inserted into their vaginas.
Last year it was reported that the Ministry of Health and Services was in the process of tabling the Traditional Healers Bill to Parliament.
The purpose of the Bill is to regulate traditional healers through the setting up of relevant bodies such as the Traditional Health Council of Namibia.
By Tunomukwathi Asino