The ritual murder drama continues to unfold as two more prominent local traditional healers were arrested and charged with murder during the weekend. The latest police breakthrough brings the number of traditional healers in police custody for ritual killing to four.

Last week, Thohoyandou police arrested Mukondeleli Phosha (54) of Tshidzini village and Shumani Dzebu (31) of Muledzhi and charged them with murder, after they were allegedly found in possession of the late Maanda Sendedza’s private parts, tongue, clothes and cell phone. They were also allegedly found in possession of Nyilisani Sidimela’s removed lips. According to the police, while the two men were in police custody, Phosha and Dzebu cooperated with the police and disclosed that they are not the only ones involved in ritual killings, but that there are other local traditional healers who kill people and sell their body parts.

This resulted in the arrest of Balanganani Munyai (84) of Khubvi and Tshimomo Munyai of Tshandama. Phosha, Dzebu and the Munyai’s were allegedly behind the ritual murder of a 40-year-old, unidentified man whose mutilated body was found at Mafukani, north of Tshilamba, on November 7 last year. The four suspects appeared in the packed Mutale magistrate’s court on Monday and they were remanded in custody until 30 December without bail.

Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi of the Vhembe police confirmed the arrests: “The arrest of Balanganani and Tsimomo Munyai came, following the discovery of a headless body at Mafukani in November last year. The legs, ribs and hands were cut off. Together with Phosha and Dzebu, the suspects led us to a spot at Tshidzini village, on the banks of the Ngwedi River, where they had hidden the remains of the unidentified deceased. The missing body parts were recovered at the scene.”

After finding the remaining bones and the skull, observers said that it seems as if they had been sprinkled with a black substance, and that they were partially burned, allegedly as part of a ritual. Black roots were also found next to the bones. All the remains were covered in a green cloth and were wrapped and put into a red plastic bag. The whole package was put into an empty maize meal bag. It was also said that the bones had been cut with a sharp object

Mushavhanamadi said the police are working around the clock and more arrests are expected in the near future. “We hope to make more arrests of local traditional healers and members of the community who are practicing ritual killing. No stone will be left unturned and we will always update the community about the latest developments in both cases.” He also appealed to community members to submit more evidence about the ritual killings to the police to expedite the investigation.