Centre for Policy on Ageing



Victimisation and killing of older women — witchcraft in Magu district, Tanzania
Author(s)	Kate Forrester Kibuga, Alex Dianga
Journal title	Southern African Journal of Gerontology, vol 9, no 2, October 2000
Pages	pp 29-32
Keywords	Older women ; Elder abuse ; Ethnic groups ; Customs ; Tanzania.
Annotation	In 1999, HelpAge International (HAI) undertook a study in Magu in conjunction with work being done by the Magu Poverty Focus on Older People Rehabilitation Centre (MAPERECE) examining reasons for the killing of older women suspected of being witches. An aim of the research was to gain knowledge for the design of strategies to tackle the problem of the killings. It was found that people in Magu district face many new problems brought about by rapid modernisation. In desperation, they seek answers from traditional healers, some of whom promote notions of witchcraft. This practice may ultimately lead to the killing of older women who are accused by being witches. An approach is needed to deal with these problems, and to break out of this cycle without alienating local people. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-001027207 A
Classmark	BD: QNT: TK: TQC: 7LK
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.