About the Project.

PROJECT TITLE: “Reducing the Harm Caused by Witchcraft Beliefs and Witch-hunting in Tanzania”

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

  1. Objectives:
    • Expound on the concept of witchcraft beliefs, practices and consequences arising thereof
    • Describe the phenomenon of witch-hunting and killing of witch suspects, the aim being to combat witchcraft violence in Tanzania
    • Establish an online resource center on contemporary research findings and produce educational materials in relation to witchcraft vis-à-vis human rights violations and violence
    • Engage state and non-state actors on strategic interventions to end (reduce) the killing of witch suspects, a legend in the country
    • Educate and enlighten on misconceptions that drive witch persecution through trainings, workshops and seminars for various interest groups
    • Involve and raise awareness among duty bearers, upholders and defenders of civil and human rights about the falsity of antiquarian witchcraft beliefs and practices in order to reduce or prevent violence based on witchcraft beliefs
    • Develop teaching materials and website on the humanitarian issues surrounding witchcraft violence, especially against elders and women in East Africa.
  2. Specific goals:
    • Produce a background report (10-15 pages) on the despicable phenomenon of witch killings and response by government and human rights NGOs pinpointing the successes and challenges to be overcome in order to end the scourge
    • Production of digital and print casebook of approximately 120 pages, to include:
      1. Case reports
      2. Teaching notes
      3. Glossary, etc.
    • Development of model course of ten lectures based on casebook (to be field tested, if possible, at UDSM Department of Sociology and Anthropology)
    • Development of website to be used as a digital repository of resources, to include:
      1. Miller’s Dartmouth exhibit on witchcraft and human rights, “African Witchcraft and Healing” (2012)
      2. A summary of Miller’s book “Encounters with Witchcraft” and an appropriate facilitators’/teachers’ guide on the same
      3. Produce a 2nd edition of the Miller book with new cover, authors etc.
      4. Demonstrational and facilitation video clips for related occasions
  3. Proposed audience for the project:
    • Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs (Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions, Judiciary and Courts of Law)
    • Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children which is mandated to set policies and instruments to protect and safeguard older people.
    • Ministry of Home Affairs (the Police Force, Directorate of Criminal Investigation)
    • Presidents’ Office-Regional Administration and Local Government.
    • Regional/District Commissioners Offices
    • Politicians/community representatives (members of parliament, councillors).
    • Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG)
    • Civil Society Organization and the Media e.g. HelpAge, Legal and Human Rights Centre, Magu Poverty Focus on Older People Rehabilitation Centre (MAPERECE) and NABROHO (Nassa Brotherhood Society), others as identified by Richard and Simeon

BACKGROUND

    1. Key Ideas:
      • Witchcraft beliefs are universal with regional/local variations and ramifications
      • Frameworks for analysis
      • Scientific/evidential framework – Denies mythical witchcraft phenomena, uses logical thinking and analysis, and makes findings based on evidence.
      • Occult/mythology framework – Uses assumptions that there is a spirit realm, a world of miracles, ghosts, living dead ancestors, etc.
      • The two frameworks are constantly mixed into different approaches
        1. Theoretical/academic approach that has little usefulness to practitioners
        2. Legislation is not reducing the belief in witchcraft nor providing a deterrent to accusations of witchcraft and related violence. The legal approach fails to deal with spiritual claims and disallows witchcraft beliefs as defense for violent action (mens rea)
        3. Missionary approach, which assumes a world of miracles, spirits, life after death, etc.
        4. Press or popular approach, which may include exaggerated and sensational reporting.

PROJECT TEAM AND ROLES

The project team comprises members from the University of Dar es Salaam and other participating Institutions. Simeon Mesaki, Richard Sambaiga, and Armstrong Matogwa Department of Sociology and Anthropology, UDSM; Norman Miller and Franny Eanet, African-Caribbean Institute.

    1. Steering group: Simeon Mesaki, Richard Sambaiga, Norman Miller,
    2. Editor and project manager: Franny Eanet
    3. Contributors, writers: Charles Good
    4. Website development (Tanzanian): Ally Bitebo

PROJECT EVENTS

  • Inception and Launching Workshop: September 2022
  • Project Panel during the VSSS Conference in November 2022