RUMONGE, January 14th (ABP) – Witch doctors commonly called “Abatutumuzi” are present in certain villages of the communes of the Rumonge province, according to local administrative officials.
The most recent case was recorded in Buyengero commune where they have settled. According to the testimonies of residents that a check by ABP contacted, those witchdoctors claim to have the ability to detect and chase away other local witchdoctors who kill people. Thus, the inhabitants of Nyakaziba village told the check by ABP that these witchdoctors are well received by the inhabitants of the different villages, who say that these witchdoctors carry out “rescue” actions, hence their nickname “Abatabazi”.
However, one of the victims of those witchdoctors indicates having suffered losses at his home, because, according to him, they have a dual mission. They stole his money from the house during their so-called protection activities. In addition, he insisted, a crowd of people who came to witness what was happening at his home damaged the fields of crops around his enclosure.
The communal administrator of Buyengero, Étienne Havyarimana, takes issue with the activities of witchdoctors which, according to him, are unknown because they are done at night. This administrative official regrets the disorder created by the latter in the society.
He explained that the consequences are harmful to the extent that brothers, neighbors become enemies because of the lies they sow in society. This also affects the financial situation of families since each family must contribute a sum of money so that the local witchdoctor is detected.
In order to fight against the activities of those witchdoctors, the communal administration is taking action against them. It issued a press release on January 9, 2025, prohibiting the presence and activities of witchdoctors throughout the commune.
All grassroots administrative officials are invited to get involved so that the population is at peace. The same press release states that an entity that will host the witchdoctor, its leader will be accused of complicity and will be severely sanctioned.
The people targeted by those witchdoctors are called upon to alert well to the administration and the police, according to the same press release.
Last May, the witchdoctors had been reported in Muhuzu village, in Minago County, Rumonge commune and province, but they were chased away by the communal administration in collaboration with the police.