Zambia police on Monday arrested a woman from the Garden Compound, Lusaka, along with her four children in connection with the murder of her husband. His body had reportedly been kept in their home for two years.
The woman, identified as 51-year-old prophetess Sylvia Mutoba Kalaba, kept her late husband’s skeleton for spiritual powers.
Authorities believe that she may have killed her 55-year-old husband, George Kalaba, for ritualistic purposes; however, Mutoba Kalaba has vehemently denied these accusations.
According to the <a href="https://www.maravipost.com/i-kept-my-husband-body-to-skeleton-stage-for-spiritual-powers-confesses-zambia-prophetess-sylvia-kalaba/">Maravi Post</a>, she claims her husband died of natural causes, as he suffered from asthma. 
Mutoba Kalaba said she preserved his skeleton to aid her in performing miracles, given her role as a prophetess. She said:
<blockquote>
I was advised by a ritualist in Tanzania to do this in order to perform countless miracles and make money as I am a prophetess and through this.
I have helped a lot of people who have been flocking to my house of prayer to receive financial breakthroughs and other miracles.
</blockquote>
Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed the arrest of Mutoba Kalaba and her children in connection with the discovery of skeletal remains in their home.
<img alt="May be an image of bone" decoding="async" src="https://scontent-jnb2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/473336095_8981913378569950_6337557969082915126_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=833d8c&amp;_nc_ohc=mQ--FTcIAc4Q7kNvgGt50cs&amp;_nc_zt=23&amp;_nc_ht=scontent-jnb2-1.xx&amp;_nc_gid=AUfhjXj9SFnsiJeZYlXNB1j&amp;oh=00_AYCvYbIH2KNLtwyGIuaRywlV8Nxfds19Ky4j4cnsc6qXfA&amp;oe=679129C0"/>
This case was initially reported as a missing person investigation by the deceased man’s elder brother.
The skeletal remains were found almost a year and a half after the family could not ascertain the man’s whereabouts.
The remains of George Kalaba discovered lying on a bed, were reduced to a skeleton, indicating he had been dead for a significant period.
Since July 2023, George’s family had been inquiring about his whereabouts, but Mutoba Kalaba reportedly denied them access to him.
The arrest followed a report made by George’s brother, Emmanuel Kalaba, 55, residing at House Number 1295 Chelstone Extension.
Hamoonga identified the suspects as Sylvia Mutoba Kalaba, the deceased’s wife, and her children: Natasha, 19; Sandra, 22; Wendi, 27; and a female juvenile.
When police followed up on the report, they found the family had locked themselves inside the house with the skeletal remains.
It is alleged that from July 2023 until January 2025, Mutoba Kalaba prevented family members from visiting George.
A tenant, Emmanuel, eventually learned that George had not been seen for over two years, raising concerns about his well-being.
Hamoonga said that the skeletal remains of George Kalaba have been collected and taken to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Mortuary.
A postmortem was scheduled for January 15, 2025, to determine the cause of death.

Pindula News

A woman in Zambia kept her husband's skeleton in their bedroom for two years for spiritual powers. She said a ritualist told her to do it to perform miracles and make money. The husband's family had been looking for him, but she denied them access to him. The woman was arrested along with her children after the skeletal remains were found. Police are investigating if she killed her husband for rituals. They have taken the remains for further examination to find out how he died.

"Zambian Prophetess Kept Husband's Skeleton In Bedroom For Spiritual Powers"

Seventy (70) people were arrested by the police on Friday, 24 November for obstructing the free movement of traffic and people as they were performing rituals at the scene of a hit-and-run accident in Mbare, Harare.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said a man was killed in a fatal hit-and-run road traffic accident in Mbare on Wednesday.
Two days later, 70 mourners who were aboard two trucks and were en route to Granville Cemetery (Kumbudzi) disembarked at the scene of the accident and started to sing and dance resulting in their arrest by the police. ZRP said:
<blockquote>
Police in Harare are investigating a fatal hit-and-run road traffic accident in which a male adult died after being hit by an unknown motorist at the intersection of Remembrance Drive and Ardbenie Road, Mbare on 22/11/23. The motorist did not stop after the accident.
Meanwhile, on 24/11/23 at around 1400 hours, 70 people were arrested for obstructing the free movement of traffic and people at the scene of the accident.
The suspects, who were aboard two lorries en route to Mbudzi Cemetery, had disembarked from the lorries before gathering at the centre of the intersection to allegedly perform rituals whilst singing and dancing.
</blockquote>
In Zimbabwe, there is a cultural belief in avenging spirits, which is often referred to as “Ngozi”.
According to this belief, avenging spirits are the restless spirits of individuals who have died under tragic or unjust circumstances, such as murder or accidental death.
These spirits are believed to seek justice or revenge for their untimely demise.
The relatives of the deceased would perform some rituals at the accident or murder scene or at the grave to incite the spirit of the deceased to seek vengeance.
It is believed that the avenging spirit will haunt the murderer and his family or her family, bringing misfortune, illness, or even death until the wrong is acknowledged and resolved through traditional rituals and appeasement of the spirit.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

70 People Arrested While Performing Rituals At Accident Scene In Mbare

The Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) is investigating the matter in which a local church bishop is accused of locking his physically challenged son inside a room for two years.
ACCZ, which is the umbrella body for apostolic churches in the country, said it will take action against the Zion Sabbath Christian Church bishop, Namatai Nemaramba if he is found guilty.
Members of the Zion Sabbath Christian Church are also demanding that the bishop resign from his post.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/abusive-bishop-under-probe/">The Manica Post</a>, secretary to the chairperson for ACCZ, Pedius Sikisa said:
<blockquote>
Our official position on the matter will be made public after September 30. We have yet to meet all the interested parties, that is church members, traditional leadership, Nemaramba, the family and the community.
</blockquote>
It is alleged that Nemaramba’s son, Joseph Nemaramba (21), was found malnourished, dirty and wounded all over the body in a room where he was kept by his father.
His limbs were reportedly crooked and he could neither talk nor walk.
Joseph was rescued by the community which was led by Acting Chief Saurombe.
Acting Chief Saurombe told The Manica Post that Nemaramba is now on the run and is suspected to have fled to Birchenough Bridge. Said the traditional leader:
<blockquote>
We suspect that Nemaramba fled to Birchenough Bridge. When we went to his homestead on Sunday for a cleansing ceremony, he was nowhere to be found.
We are making frantic efforts to locate him so that the cleansing ceremony is done so that his son can be healed.
We have information that there is a mole within his family who is tipping him off and helping him to escape from justice.
We will leave no stone unturned to bring him to book.
</blockquote>
The bishop was supposed to appear before Acting Chief Saurombe’s court on Sunday, but the Messenger of Court couldn’t find him at his homestead.
It is alleged that during an earlier court appearance, Nemaramba confessed that he caused his son’s illness.
He allegedly said his rituals to enhance his spiritual powers and attract more people to his church involved keeping his son captive in a room and denying him access to the outside world.
It is further alleged that Nemaramba surrendered the items he used in his rituals.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bishop Locks Paraplegic Son Inside A Room For Two Years

A man from Kuwadzana suburb, Harare, claims he had sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law at a traditional healer (sangoma)’s shrine for ritual purposes when they were both in South Africa.
The man, Blessing Moyo, made the startling claims after his wife Rutendo Mutukwa took her belongings and deserted him.
Moyo said her intimate encounter with his mother-in-law, Tambudzayi Mukandi, for ritual purposes, rendered him impotent, resulting in his wife leaving him.
Angered by her son-in-law’s allegations, Mukandi made a police report against him, accusing him of calling her a witch.
Moyo and Mukandi were expected to face each other in court on Tuesday, 11 July.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/man-beds-mother-in-law-ritual-act-ends-up-destroying-marriage/">H-Metro</a>, Moyo said the sangoma instructed him to have sexual intercourse with Mukandi and also to bed his wife in full view of his mother-in-law. He said:
<blockquote>
I regret being lured into rituals by my mother-in-law for the love of money which I never got.
My mother-in-law convinced me and my wife to consult a sangoma sometime in 2017.
We were instructed to take off all our clothes, and I was told to have sexual intercourse with my mother-in-law and later with my wife in full view of my mother-in-law.
Ndakazotemwa nyora kumusana nemuchiuno namai vemudzimai.
Ipapo ndipo pandinofunga kuti ndakatorerwa simba rose.
Ndakatorerwa chiwuno changu uye handichabvumidzwe kuona vana vangu.
I caused a scene in Glen View where my children are staying and exposed the rituals out of anger, and she took the matter to the police.
</blockquote>
Mukandi confirmed her fallout with Blessing to H-Metro, but refused to shed more light on the matter saying the case is now being handled by the police.
Rutendo is reported to have been admitted to a hospital in South Africa and could not be reached for comment by the publication.
She was reportedly beaten up by her uncles after she accused her mother of wrecking her marriage.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Man Claims His Marriage Collapsed After He Bedded Mother-in-law At A Sangoma's Shrine

The body of a 12-month-old infant was allegedly stolen from a grave by unknown people in Chisumbanje.
Police said the incident came to light on Saturday 06 May in Musaonyerwa Village.
In a post on the ZRP Twitter page on Monday, Police said the baby died on 7 February this year. Reads the post:
<blockquote>
Police in Chisumbanje are investigating circumstances surrounding a case of violating a grave in which a dug-out grave was found, with a missing corpse, on 06/05/23 at Musaonyerwa Village.
The violated grave was that of an infant (12 months) who passed on 07/02/23. The missing corpse has not yet been found.
Anyone with information to report at any nearest Police Station.
</blockquote>
Violating a grave refers to any action that desecrates or disturbs the resting place of the dead.
This is considered a serious taboo and disrespectful to the deceased and their family members.
Grave violations in Zimbabwe include digging up graves without proper authorisation, removing or stealing items from graves (such as headstones, ornaments, or even human remains), or using grave sites for purposes other than burial or memorialisation.
A significant proportion of the Zimbabwean population believes in witchcraft and the disappearance of the toddler’s remains could be viewed as the work of witches or people dabbling in “juju” who use human body parts for ritual purposes.
Violating a grave is considered a criminal offence and is punishable under the Burial and Cremation Act.
The penalty for violating a grave can vary depending on the severity of the offense and the circumstances surrounding it.
Those found guilty may face imprisonment for up to two years or be required to pay a fine.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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