Zambia: the story of the ritual killings in Walale in the 1980s

The story below is a weird story, about a series of ritualistic murders which took place in and around a shebeen in Luanshya’s Twashuka, popularly known as Walale, in the 1980s (a shebeen is an illegal drinking place, a place where alcohol is being sold and served without a license). 

The article is brief. More can be read after registering as a subscriber. It is unknown whether additional information can easily be found on the internet. If that’s the case, I will keep you informed. It’s an intriguing story (webmaster FVDK).

Changing times reform Walale

Published: May 29, 2020
By: Zambia Daily Mail Limited –  Nkole Mulambia

WALALE, Luanshya’s little-known township, once gained recognition during the UNIP era for its notorious murders by a family that was allegedly killing people and burying them at their house.

In the early1980s, the story of the ritual killings in Walale spread far and wide and attracted the attention of the then President, Kenneth Kaunda, who visited the township.
In an interview, Twashuka councillor Mulenga Chakulya says the family in question was running a shebeen, and under the cover of darkness and loud music, they would waylay intoxicated patrons and strangle them.

As alcohol was being served at the shebeen under the ambience of traditional music by live drummers, some patrons would disappear and not be seen again by their relatives.
Mr Chakulya says it was believed that the family in question was killing their clients for juju purposes.

“They were arrested, tried in court and jailed. I am not sure just how long they were jailed,” Mr Chakulya narrates.

Walale, christened as Twashuka, is now a peaceful and generally crime-free township, located 15km from the Luanshya central business district.

To read more, you can access the original article after clicking on the link below (webmaster FVDK).

Source: Changing times reform Walale