The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Wednesday, August 24,1966 — An African tried to bribe police officers to keep his case out of court after he was arrested under the Witchcraft Suppression Act, a Bulawayo magistrate’s court was told yesterday.

Chipiya was fined a total of 40 pounds (or four months) and given a four month jail sentence conditionally suspended for three years by the magistrate, Mr BJ Carpenter, for accepting payment for Witchcraft and attempting to bribe a police officer. Sophie Masuku told the court that she went to Chipiya’s kraal on June 1 because she had been ill.

She previously attended nearby a nearby clinic, but they were unable to cure her. Chipiya told her she was pregnant and gave her some “muti”. Masuku said she took the medicine twice and it cured her.

An African policeman, Phillimon, said he searched Chipiya’s house at Helensvale on August 1. He found “bones”, a rattle, a black horse swish, and a black cushion containing medicines.

He said he understood they were connected with witchcraft. Chipiya had offered him and another constable 1 pound each not to take his “magic things” and to keep his case out of court. They refused.

Chipiya admitted attempting to bribe the officers.” I was very frightened to come to court”, he told Mr Carpenter. He denied accepting money from Masuku in payment for his “muti”. He claimed he was given the 5s as a gift.