Witchdoctor to bring girlfriend back

My girlfriend recently left me for another man and I am struggling to accept it. A friend has now introduced me to a famous witchdoctor who says that for some money he can perform some rituals which will make her lose interest in the new man and return to me within seven days. I am seriously considering paying because I still love her. However, my friend says I might be committing an offence. Use you magic FB Attorneys, guide me please as I desperately need her back.

BM, Dar es Salaam

Unfortunately, the law may interfere with your plan to win back your girlfriend before the witchdoctor even gets an opportunity to do so. The Witchcraft Act, defines witchcraft broadly to include sorcery, enchantment, bewitching, use of instruments of witchcraft and the purported exercise of occult power or possession of occult knowledge. Section 3 also makes various activities relating to the exercise and purported possession of powers of witchcraft offences.

More interestingly for you, section 7 provides that a person who employs or solicits another person to resort to the use of witchcraft or any instrument of witchcraft for any purpose whatsoever commits an offence. The words ‘for any purpose whatsoever’ are important. Therefore, your argument that you merely want your girlfriend back rather than intending to injure her does not necessarily save you. Indeed, section 5 distinguishes offences committed with an intention to cause death, disease, injury or misfortune from offences committed without such intention and prescribes different consequences.

The witchdoctor may himself also have problems under the Act. Section 3 makes it an offence, amongst other things, for a person by statements or actions to represent himself as having the power of witchcraft or to advise another person on its use. In the circumstances, we advise you to allow your former girlfriend to make her own choice and use the money for something else. You might also want to start looking for a new girlfriend!

Lions ate my cows

I live in a village bordering a national park and keep cattle and goats for my livelihood. Last week, lions came out of the park during the night, entered our village and killed three of my cows and several goats. I am extremely frustrated because we are constantly told not to kill wildlife, yet when wildlife leaves the protected area, it is our property and livelihoods that are destroyed. Can I demand compensation from the national park or Government? What am I supposed to do if the lions return?

MK, Manyara

We understand your frustration. Unfortunately, the law does not quite work on the basis that if the Government protects the lion, the Government must buy you another cow. Section 71 of the Wildlife Conservation Act provides for payment of consolation to persons who suffer, amongst others, loss of livestock caused by dangerous animals. Lions are specifically classified as dangerous animals for purposes of the applicable legal framework. It is important to appreciate the word used by the law: consolation, not necessarily compensation. The statutory scheme is intended to provide some financial relief for the loss suffered and does not necessarily reimburse you for the actual market value of the animal.

Under the Wildlife Conservation (Dangerous Animals Damage Consolation) Regulations, 2011, as amended in 2024, the prescribed consolation payment is currently only TZS 75,000 for the death of a cow and TZS 37,500 for the death of a sheep or goat. Therefore, if your 3 cows were worth several million shillings, you should unfortunately not expect the statutory consolation payment to equal their market value.

There is also a procedure which you should follow quickly. The Regulations require a person whose livestock has been killed by a dangerous animal to report the incident to the nearest Village Executive Officer within 3 days. An application for consolation must be made in the prescribed form within 7 days, and the incident must be verified by the relevant officials and two independent witnesses. You should therefore not simply dispose of the remains and complain about the incident several weeks later; promptly report it and preserve whatever evidence may assist in verifying the attack.

As to what happens if the lions return, the law does not expect you to simply stand there and watch them eat the remaining cattle. Section 73 of the Act recognizes that killing an animal in defence of human life or livestock is not an offence. However, this protection has limitations, including where the dangerous situation resulted from deliberate provocation or where the relevant person was committing an offence under the Act. Further, section 69 allows wildlife authorities to control animals which cause damage to property or injury or loss of human life. You should therefore immediately alert the relevant wildlife authorities where the lions continue entering the village rather than turning lion hunting into a village sport.

Son refuses to become doctor

I have a 16 year old son who performs extremely well at school. Since he was young, I have planned for him to become a doctor and have spent substantial amounts of money on his education. He has now shocked me by saying that he does not want to study medicine and instead wants to pursue music and become a producer. I told him that until he turns 18, I am his father and he must follow my decisions. Surprisingly, he says the law gives him a right to participate in decisions concerning his life. Does Tanzanian law really give him such a right?

GK, Arusha

Section 11 of the Law of the Child Act gives a child who is capable of forming views the right to express an opinion, to be listened to and to participate in decisions affecting his well-being. This does not mean that a 16 year old becomes the head of the family or that parents lose their responsibility to provide guidance. Indeed, the Act places important duties and responsibilities upon parents concerning the upbringing and development of their children.

However, as a child matures to form his own views, decisions substantially affecting his future should not simply be imposed upon him without listening to him. You can advise your son, explain why you believe medicine offers him a better future and perhaps even remind him who has been paying the school fees, but his views about his own education and future career should also be taken seriously.