Man kills daughter after accusing her of witchcraft

A Tanzanian primary school teacher appeared in court today to face charges he murdered his six-year-old daughter because he believed she was a witch, state radio reported.

Police Inspector Aron Mushi said Kamendu had blamed his wife for giving birth to the girl, whose physical deformities he saw as a bad omen.

He had attacked his daughter as she was playing a game with her friends in the evening.

After the murder, villagers seized the accused and handed him over to the police.

“Kamendu brutally murdered his daughter Azima … by hitting her repeatedly in the head with a sharp object,” Mushi said.

The teacher was arraigned before the Sumbawanga Resident Court in south-western Rukwa and a new hearing was set for September 26.