‘Sorcery-related violence common in Enga’

SORCERY-related violence is rife in Enga and a conference held in Wabag has set up a committee to monitor it and report to the Government.
The conference was attended by officers from the National Research Institute, Constitutional and Law Reform Commission, Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council and the department of Justice and Attorney-General.
State Legal Officer Serena Sasingian said the conference was to address sorcery and witchcraft related violence in the province.
“Enga has been identified as one of the provinces that is becoming a hot-spot for torture, murder and accusations on Sanguma and witchcraft,” she said.
“A National Executive Council decision in 2015 contained a strategy (on how) to address sorcery-related violence in the country.
“We spent the three days speaking to stakeholders from the health sector, police, civil society organisations and churches.
“Our aim is to set up this provincial committee that will coordinate activities at the provincial level, and report to the national core committee.”
She said the team noted that Enga was already addressing sorcery-related violence.
“Enga people have said that sorcery and sanguma are not part of the Engan culture,” Sasingian said.