A 21-year-old traditional doctor from Sela village in Nchelenge District has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for scamming his client K500 and two broiler chickens with a false promise to recover his client’s stolen motorcycle.

ZANIS reports that Bernard Musonda was charged with the offence of Cheating, Contrary to section 311 of the penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

It was heard that Musonda, on December 5, 2024 in Nchelenge District, being a traditional doctor, obtained money amounting to K500 and two broiler chickens altogether valued at K770 from Joseph Matambo by fraudulent tricking him that he will recover his stolen motorbike when in fact not.

Musonda readily pleaded guilty as charged before Magistrate Febby Muleya.

According to facts read to the court, on the material day, Matambo’s elder sister informed him that she had arranged for him to talk to a witch doctor to help him recover his motorbike which was stolen from him.

Around 17:00 hours on the same day Matambo went to meet Musonda, the traditional doctor, in the company of his elder brother and sister.

During the meeting, the traditional doctor performed his enchantments and alleged that he knew where the motorbike was, naming Ephraim Mwamba from the same village as a suspect.

Musonda then demanded K10 to buy talk time, two white chickens, a dish, a book, K 300 cash and a white powder.

He then assured the victim that he will find the motorbike behind his house the following day and that if that fails he should proceed to report the witch doctor to police.

However, the victim could not find the motorbike the following day, as assured by the traditional doctor.

When he made a follow up, the traditional doctor informed him that his motorbike had instead been taken to Mwaimwena graveyard by the suspect.

The traditional doctor then recommended that for the victim to recover the motorbike from the graveyard he had to be tattooed and drink some special herb concoction and visit the graveyard at 22:00 hours carrying a broiler chicken which he did.

However, the victim could not find the motorbike at the graveyard and decided to report the matter to police leading to the arrest of the witch doctor.

In mitigation, the accused pleaded with the court for leniency stating not to commit a similar offence again.

However, Magistrate Muleya sentenced the accused to three months’ imprisonment to deter would-be offenders.