Woman Killed For Allegedly Stealing A Penis – Eduzim News

By A Correspondent-A 46-year-old woman, Eneless Hellen Kamutumbe, was brutally killed in Zambia’s Kalumbila District after a young man allegedly accused her of magically stealing his penis — a claim that triggered a deadly mob attack.

The incident occurred on Friday, 20 March 2026, in the Kisasa area on the Copperbelt. According to local reports, Hellen had travelled to the area for business and was at a local market when a 25-year-old man, identified as Prince Ntambo, allegedly accused her of making his private parts disappear following physical contact.

Ntambo reportedly raised an alarm, attracting a crowd that quickly turned violent. The mob allegedly assaulted Hellen using sticks, stones and planks, inflicting severe injuries. Attempts by some members of the public to rescue her were met with further violence, as they too were attacked.

Police who responded to the scene were also confronted by the mob. Reports indicate that at least three officers were injured, while a police vehicle’s windscreen was shattered during the unrest.

Hellen was later taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her body had reportedly been left along the Mwinilunga–Solwezi Road following the attack.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a “superstition-driven mob murder” and a sign of deep societal failure. The organisation criticised the inability of both community members and authorities to prevent the killing, noting that mob justice continues to thrive where superstition overrides reason.

Authorities in Zambia have since confirmed that several suspects have been arrested, including the man who made the initial accusation. The government also issued a statement condemning the attack, stressing that mob justice has no place in the country.

“Nothing entitles a mob to take a life. That is not how the Republic of Zambia works, and it is not who we are as a people. Extrajudicial violence of this kind is a heinous crime, and it will be treated as one,” the statement read.

The government further expressed concern that many of the alleged perpetrators were young people, highlighting the need for stronger social values and community responsibility.

AfAW has welcomed the arrests but called for stronger action to address what it describes as “superstition-based violence”, urging authorities to enforce laws, promote critical thinking, and end the criminalisation of alleged witchcraft.

The organisation also criticised contradictions within the legal system, arguing that prosecuting individuals for witchcraft accusations reinforces the same beliefs that fuel mob attacks.

“There is no evidence that people can steal body parts or harm others through magical means,” the group said, adding that such claims are rooted in fear, misinformation and ignorance.

The killing of Hellen Kamutumbe has once again raised concerns about witch-hunt-related violence in parts of Africa, where accusations linked to supernatural beliefs continue to lead to assaults and killings.

Advocates say urgent interventions are needed, including public education, legal reform and stronger policing, to prevent similar incidents.

Justice has been demanded for Hellen Kamutumbe, as well as for others previously accused and prosecuted under similar claims.

The case remains under investigation.

Source-Online

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