Bewitching (Witchcraft ok in Black Zimbabwe again!)

Back in 1899, British colonialists in what was then Rhodesia passed the Witchcraft Suppression Act, which declared that witchcraft was nonsense, and made it a crime to accuse someone of witchcraft. More than a century later, most people in what is now Zimbabwe still believe in witchcraft, and are increasingly calling on it to solve the country's problems. The government of dictator Robert Mugabe has scrapped the Witchcraft Suppression Act, so it is now possible to sue someone for casting a spell. If someone can prove in court that an enemy bewitched him, he can collect damages.

Claude Mararike, a sociologist at the University of Zimbabwe, is pleased. "We as Africans recognize the existence of witches and witchcraft," he says. Prof. Mararike also approves of bringing witchcraft cases to court: "We are trying to remove the Eurocentric way of looking at issues." The professor says magic or muti can do good things, too. It can stop theft, acting as an "electric fence" around a house. With the right mumbo jumbo, someone can get into a reed basket and fly from place to place. Prof. Mararike says Zimbabwe needs "to develop the science, patent and market it."

BPP comment: Good to see Black Zimbabwe (formerly White Rhodesia) is pushing new frontiers of science and progress!!!!

Zimbabwean Minister of Health?