A Ntchisi man who was recently convicted of defiling his 13-year-old niece pitched an excuse that has been used by many others who have been jailed for crimes of rape and defilement.

The man, who defiled the teenager on her way to the market where he had sent her to get him vegetables, told a magistrate’s court in the district that he had, apparently, been advised by a witchdoctor to commit the crime as a ritual to boost his small scale business.

This is not the first time such statements have been made by people that are prosecuted in defilement or rape cases. There have been several cases where witchdoctors have reportedly had an advisory hand in such cases.

We have heard of men who have defiled babies in nappies following traditional doctors’ advice that the men would be cleansed of HIV infection after a sexual encounter with a virgin.

Stories of albinos being targeted for similar rituals have also been told in different parts of Africa.

Here are baffling crimes, which although committed by the convicts or suspects, originate from the mind of another—the witchdoctor who is equally responsible for his client’s actions.

Although the convict or suspect is the one who implements the plan, which ultimately hurts the victim, it is the witchdoctor who hatches the criminal idea. When the witchdoctor orders his or her client to perform such a ritual, they know fully well that they are prompting a desperate client to embark on a journey that endangers other people’s lives. Why can’t they concoct better solutions that promote peaceful coexistence among people?

But in most of these cases, when we hear of defilers or rapists being sentenced to jail, rarely do we see the witchdoctors—the brains behind the criminal idea—accompanying them or being taken to task for instigating the misconduct.

It’s good to know that the Ntchisi defiler has been confined to prison, where he must pay for subjecting the little girl to this horrific experience, but what about the architect of the offence?

Where is the human being whose mind cooked up this strange idea that a man who sells chips cha pa chiwaya could turn into an instant millionaire if he forced himself on an innocent little girl?

This is a dangerous man who has used his witch doctoral power and influence to turn a child’s life into a nightmare and create a hazardous environment for children in the communities they live in.

Who knows what other ideas he is selling to his clientele?

For all we know, he is presently issuing similar orders to another desperate customer who will pounce on another unsuspecting girl any minute.