RITUAL VICTIM REVEALS ALL

... I was trapped by someone I knew

JAMES Mubanga, a 30-yearold man of Chief Mwenda’s area in Mwense whose manhood was almost chopped off by suspected ritual killers is now living in fear of his life following reports of a ritual murder in the district.

This follows reports that another man was last Sunday killed and his body parts removed in the same area. Mr Mubanga, told the Daily Nation in a telephone interview that he feels like a prisoner because the attack has almost incapacitated him because of constant headaches and dizziness, making it impossible for him to have a normal life. He lamented that he was virtually a prisoner in his home because he could not move even when he felt better because he was afraid of being attacked, especially that a life had been lost in a suspected ritual murder. To make matters worse, Mr Mubanga said, one of his attackers was known to him personally and he had trusted him when they walked home together on the fateful night. He explained that a friend he has known for a long time, lured him into sitting down along the way on the pretext that he was tired after the duo had walked a short distance near a thicket. “He asked if I had eaten and when I said yes, told me that would be the last meal for me and then his friends came and attacked me. The victim said that he was stabbed several times in the head before the attackers went for his manhood. Mr Mubanga said that he was very sure that his attackers had the intention of killing him and for ritual purposes. He questioned why the police were dragging in charging the suspects and contemplating on charging them with assault. Mr Mubanga said that the reports of another ritual victim in the same village was proof that the area had been invaded. The victim called on authorities to intervene in the matter and ensure that the suspects were charged rightfully. “Is it because we are poor that they are dragging in dealing with our case? Why should they think of charging the suspects with assault when they wanted to end my life,” he said. Mr Mubanga also appealed to well-wishers to help him raise money to access proper health care in Mansa, which he said was the nearest centre but still very far from his village. Unconfirmed reports are that the recent ritual victim had his private parts, hair and other body parts missing. The police command in the province could not be reached for a comment by press time. The victim said his life was no longer the same as he sometimes loses his memory and had severe headaches following the attack.