Fake Herbalist Arrested in Lilongwe After Scamming Woman Seeking “Love Muthi”

Police in Lilongwe have arrested 35-year-old Petro Kalanje for allegedly robbing a woman of her phone and cash after posing as a herbalist who could “lock” her husband to prevent him from being unfaithful.

Lilongwe Police spokesperson Hastings Chigalu confirmed that the incident occurred on December 24, while the woman’s husband was away from home.

According to police, Kalanje and an accomplice who is currently on the run approached the woman carrying various herbal concoctions. They convinced her that they possessed powerful charms (Love muthi) capable of ending her husband’s womanizing behavior for good.

Believing the story, the woman took the two men into her house and eventually into her bedroom to perform the rituals. While inside, the suspects asked her to hand over her Tecno POP 7 smartphone, claiming they needed to perform a ritual on it so that her husband would become “paralyzed” or “stuck” if he ever tried to use it to contact other women.

To complete the scam, the suspects gave the woman another set of herbs and instructed her to go to a local market to perform a separate ritual by herself, leaving them alone in the house.

When the woman returned from the market, she found the herbalists gone. Upon checking her belongings, she discovered that not only had they taken her phone, but they had also stolen K25,000 which she had hidden under her mattress.

The police have since managed to apprehend Kalanje, while a manhunt is underway for his accomplice. Authorities have warned the public to be cautious of individuals masquerading as traditional healers to exploit people’s domestic problems for criminal gain