Yesterday, Police arrested Group Village Headman Yiteta and four others for allegedly demolishing four houses belonging to Chawinga family members and accusing them of witchcraft in Rumphi.

Rumphi police spokesperson Sergeant Tupeliwe Kabwilo has identified the other four suspects as Sanudi Ng’ambi 48, Kenani Ng’ambi 33, Lezawawa Ng’ambi 42, and Catherine Ng’ambi of Kasalika

According to Kabwilo, the two families have been in disagreement over land ownership and on March 2, 2022, one of the relatives of the suspects died, during funeral vigil , Group Village Headman Yiteta accused some members of Chawinga family of having a hand in the death of the deceased which angered the relatives of the deceased who later, on March 11 went on rampage damaging four houses belonging to family members and other properties.

The suspects were arrested on March 15, 2022, during an intelligence led sweeping exercise conducted at Hewe area in the district.

All suspects hail from Hewe area of Traditional Authority Katumbi in Rumphi District.