An 80-year-old woman of Chadiza District in Eastern Province has allegedly been buried alive by her grandsons after being accused of practicing witchcraft.
The victim, Tisiyenji Sakala of Chataika Village, was reportedly dragged from her grass-thatched hut between 16:00 and 17:00 hours on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and thrown into an unfinished pit latrine.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed the incident to Diamond News.
It is alleged that Sailensi Banda and Joseph Banda, aged 20 and 15, attacked their grandmother while armed with an axe and began covering her with soil in the one-and-a-half-metre-deep pit.
Witnesses who gathered at the scene reportedly failed to intervene after the suspects threatened to kill anyone who attempted a rescue.
Police say the motive behind the attack was accusations that the elderly woman was responsible for her granddaughter’s prolonged illness and previous deaths in the family.
A combined team of police and fire brigade officers responded to the scene. Firefighters took about 30 minutes to retrieve the body from the pit.
The body, which had a swollen face and bruises on the hands, has been deposited at Chadiza District Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the two suspects, who remain at large.
By Samuel Khwawe
