User Comments

1. 

   4/20/09

   flamingpoodle

   There are various kinds of muti and they're pretty expensive. The muti with body parts in it is especially expensive - and to the superstitious, particularly powerful too.
   
   The THO as far as I know deal more with traditional medicines as opposed to witchcraft. There was a project a while ago to reconcile that organisation's practices with modern medical knowledge. They're not as ignorant as one would think - about the same as homeopathy.
   
   In rural communities, belief in witchcraft is very common. Even our soccer players who are mostly not from rural areas tend to consult witchdoctors for muti.
   
   I do not think muti with body parts in it is particularly common. While muti sales are guaranteed to soar during the world cup, the kind of muti for soccer is mostly lucky charms or something to make you strong during your game. It might smell bad and contain an array of interesting things, but I don't think it contains human body parts - partly because the soccer players won't be able to afford it anyway.
   
   It's not a widespread problem and you're more likely to get murdered for your wallet than murdered for your body parts here.

   [reply]
   1. 

      4/20/09

      TheTVObserver

      Hi flamingpoodle. But what happens when a soccer team, not the player, wants to win badly. What could prevent them from using muti with some body part in it? just to ensure a win over their rivals?
      
      "The THO as far as I know deal more with traditional medicines as opposed to witchcraft."
      
      So are you saying the use of body parts as muti is more of witchcraft than medicine? If so does it mean within the THO you have a bit of both? The ones who use medicine and those who use body parts? But both categories these as medicine...correct?
      
      The idea that a person can specifically order a human body part to bury in his/her restaurant or store. Gives me the creeps beyond measure. Can you imagine
      
      Also, I think its not widespread in the "media" but local communities and societies know very well of the practice. If a person tricks you and you wake up with your kidney missing, its bad but I guess its better than missing your lips or worse genitals. Then left to die.
      
      The whole thing is so secretive that I do not think it will be controlled in anyway. The people arrested are the "murder for hire gangs" not the people who place orders or commission the murders.
      
      Its sad, scary and very disturbing.
   2. 

      4/20/09

      flamingpoodle

      The THO deals more with traditional medicine. Muti that uses body parts is more witchcraft than traditional medicine. The THO has traditional healers (sometimes called ngaka). The guys who practice witchcraft are called sangoma.
      
      These are very broad strokes. Sometimes the functions of the ngaka and the sangoma overlap, but the THO is a semi-respectable institute. Sangoma also do divination and find lost property, etc.
      
      If a soccer team as a unit wanted to win really badly, they won't get away with muti murders. The soccer teams are under public scrutiny so everyone would know about it.
      
      The problem is more widespread in secluded rural communities, but it's still not a big problem. I don't mean to say it's not a serious problem, only that muti murders are rare.
2. 

   4/20/09

   elitethinker

   In France, Body parts cannot be a business only donation. That should be a Universal Law, even as important as Environement Law because this is really sick and against all Humanity.

   [reply]
   1. 

      4/20/09

      TheTVObserver

      Hi elitethinker. I agree, its sick...really sick. This is where I understand the concept of hanging people. It so applies.