MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2000

Since 2000 the organization has achieved a number of successes in its mission and vision including that, in the villages where we have been working both in Magu and Kwimba districts the village that had high rate of killings of older women due to witch craft allegations the killings   have gone down by more than 80%

Analysis of information from the Witchcraft Killings Monitoring forms (WKMF) shows that witchcraft killings and threatening letters to older women have been reduced significantly. In the programme villages plus another 8 nearby villages the 8 villages involved in the list for assessing our neighborhood adoption strategy, the WKMF shows the following: a reduction in witchcraft killings from 13 in 2007 to 1 in 2008, and the receipt of threatening letters from 48 in 2007 to 4 in 2008.

Moreover a case study below provides an example of the impacts of reduced witchcraft allegations on older women.

Pasikazia Makelema, 57 years from Bugandando village- Kwimba district

“I was born here, and married a local man. One day, about five years ago, I went to the market to

buy groundnuts. When I came back, some of the neighbours’ children were playing near my home. I gave them some of the groundnuts. One of the children had cerebral malaria and that night became sick and died. The family blamed me, saying that I had poisoned the child with the groundnuts, but he was already ill because of the malaria.

 A couple of months later, I was in bed sleeping, when I was attacked with a machete. I think there were five men, but only one of them was attacking me. He cut my shoulder, arms and hand. The attack only stopped because some people threw stones at the house and the attackers thought someone was coming. I do not think it was the Sungusungu who attacked me; I think it was people who had been hired privately by the family.

 After the attack, my husband and my children took me to hospital. Yet, when I returned home, my husband left me and he is married to another woman and lives in another place. I couldn’t go to the police as I had spent all our money at the hospital and also, I had no support from my husband. Even if I had gone to the police, I know what would have happened. They would have arrested those responsible, but they would have released them soon after.

 After my attack, I received no support from the community. I know other women who have also been attacked. One woman was killed just last night.

I’m not sure what can be done to address this problem. The issue is difficult because it’s people’s belief. The belief in witchcraft is held deeply in people’s hearts NABROHO’s programme has at least moved people away from this belief to some extent. At least now, people are talking about the issue openly in the community. Now I can go without fear to village meetings and am accepted again by people in the community.

I live with my son and daughter-in-law and they support me. I remained on my husband’s land. I want those responsible for these attacks to be removed by the government. I would also like support in the form of food, clothes and cash. I would like support caring for grandchildren.” 

• NABROHO is indicating impressive successes and is gradually creating an environment in which women, especially older women, can exercise their civil and political rights.

 Community institutions and duty bearers, older people’s structures, and community members are progressively taking more active roles in the organization projects and their attitudes towards older women are gradually changing and becoming more positive.  This has been reflected in the reduction of witchcraft killings and threatening letters sent to older women in the project areas, inclusion of international day of older persons in district local councils’ Annual events calendar, allocation of funds targeting issues affecting older persons in their budgets and Plans

In the 15 villages that the organization has already worked with, community development plans are reflecting awareness rising and the rights protection activities, there is meetings involving government leaders and other stakeholders are including discussions on the rights of older women. Moreover, as a result of organization’s activities, village and ward development plans are reflecting budget allocations to respond to the needs of older people and OVCs.