Police in Dowa on Wednesday afternoon rescued a 38-year-old woman from angry villagers of Mzikometsa and Mbalira Villages over witchcraft accusation.

Dowa Police spokesperson Gladson M’bumpha said the incident happened between Tuesday and Wednesday this week in both villages.

“It is alleged that the woman, Annie Black, of Mbalira Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chiwere in Dowa District, on Tuesday this week was being accused by villagers of Mzikometsa that she was allegedly teaching young children witchcraft.

“The woman was evicted from Mzikometsa Village to her home village Mbalira and on Wednesday afternoon, the same villagers ganged up so that they could deal with the woman, who was hidden in her brother’s house,” M’bumpha said.

Following the incident, police were called to the scene and managed to rescue the woman and teargas was used to disperse the crowd since the angry villagers were stoning both police officers and the victim.

During the incident, the windscreen of the police vehicle got damaged while the victim was rescued and is being kept outside Dowa District for her safety.

Meanwhile, police have instituted investigations to trace the perpetrators and bring them to book so that the law can take its course.