Nyasa. The District Commissioner of Nyasa, Peres Magiri, along with the Defence and Security Committee, has arrested a traditional healer known by the name "Askofu" in the Mbamba Bay area of Nyasa District.
The traditional healer was arrested for misleading fishermen on Lake Nyasa by selling them herbal medicines and falsely promising that engaging in sexual activities in the water can prevent HIV, ward off curses, and enhance fishing success.
This misinformation has led to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV among the local fishing community.
The healer was apprehended on September 3, 2024, while continuing with his business of selling herbal medicines to fishermen on the shores of Lake Nyasa.
This happened just a few days after The Citizen and its sister paper, Mwananchi, conducted an investigation that uncovered that traditional healers, including a figure known as ‘Askofu’, which is the Kiswahili word for ‘Bishop’, were selling herbal concoctions and charms to fishermen.
Speaking to the fishermen, DC Magiri provided education on the importance of not engaging in unprotected sex and urged them to disregard the false claims made by the healer,...
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