Authorities in Tanzania have detained two church leaders on suspicion of holding a number of sick individuals and promising to heal them through prayer and local plants.
Over 100 people were found in Nyamhinza village, Misungwi district, in the northwest of Mwanza, being held in traditional wards- which were mud-walled cottages with brick beds- built around the church. Neither food nor medical care was being given to them. Some of them had been there for as long as a month, and they had to provide for themselves while they recovered.
They were discovered after some of the locals informed the authorities that several people, including a woman who had joined the church immediately after giving birth to twins, were dying after leaving hospitals. The sick patients were returned to hospitals by the police at the end of last week for treatment. They are currently looking into possible deaths, and searching for any buried bodies nearby.
Wilbroad Mutafungwa, the regional police commander for Mwanza, told journalists on Wednesday that Initial investigations did not indicate there were individuals buried there, but they were still keeping a close eye.
According to him, the accused- church leaders William Masum and his wife Kabula Lushika, had been arrested. He then said that the church leaders lacked the necessary authorizations to lead worship and prayer services or offer conventional healing treatments. “We are now doing a detailed investigation, including interrogating the suspects. Meanwhile I ask locals with classified information that will help the investigation to come forward and talk to the police,” he said.
According to reports, the church has been in operation for more than five years.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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