Shock as Sumbawanga residents suffer severe night caning, stoning

IT sounds imaginary but it’s real...residents of Bible Street at Kizwite Ward here have for five consecutive days suffered severe caning and their house roofs stoned throughout the nights.

Worse still, fire erupts inside their houses at night, reducing to ashes their clothes and other belongings. Some residents believe they have been haunted by evils and have sought the services of preachers.

The awkward situation has prompted the Bible Street Chairman, Mr Andrew Cheka, to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the security of the area as reports about the incident spread like bush fire within and beyond Sumbawanga municipality.

The ‘Daily News’ was present at the well-attended Sunday meeting, which attracted hundreds of residents from the Bible Street and other curious people from the distant precincts, eager to listen to the victims’ testimonies.

Reports had it that several residents at the street were caned at night, some children having their shirts or underpants disappeared mysteriously while their pullovers, skirts and shorts remained intact on their bodies.

A resident from a distant OTC Street, Mr Straus Ulaya told this reporter at the meeting that he had attended the gathering to satisfy his curiosity over the mystery.

Testifying before the meeting, John Nyalikaa of Bible Street said his house has been stoned throughout the night and the school uniforms of his five children burnt mysteriously.

“I have stayed here for eight years but I have never wronged anybody at our street, I wonder why this strange things are happening to my family. I have bought school uniforms five times for my children but they get burnt while safely kept indoors,” he charged.

“Last night my children prepared ‘ugali’ for our evening meal and when it was about to be served, we suddenly saw pieces of papers sealed on top of it, with writings that directed me to go and live somewhere else or risk the consequences,” he further narrated.

Another resident, Amos Mkangwa said that the roof of his house was badly damaged by day and night stoning for three consecutive days and his bag stuffed with clothes and mattresses destroyed by fire while kept indoor.

“Mr Chairman don’t declare that there is no witchcraft, while we cannot sleep at nights as we are severely caned and slapped. And fire erupts inside our houses destroying our belongings mostly clothes,” said Ms Jenifa Kaloto.

The Street Chairman admitted to have been alerted over the incident by the victims, saying he has been visiting them every morning to console them and get updates, hinting that already several preachers have started special prayers to address the situation and control spirits haunting the houses.

Majority residents said they were ready to reveal the person behind the disturbance, advising the authority to take the culprit to task, including kicking them out of the street within 24 hours.

Daily News