The government of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland ��) has banned a competition where witch �‍♀️ doctors battle against each other. The government describe the act as "illegal and weird"" the act has the potential of poisoning the mind of the people and children.

Organizers of the the event had planned to hold the competition in Manzini, the second city of eSwatini, a land-locked country in southern Africa ruled by King Mswati III, one of the world’s last absolute monarchs.

“The proposed competition of witchcraft and magic spells was unheard of in the country and it was regarded as an anomaly in the lives of the people of eSwatini,” government spokesman Percy Simelane said in a statement.

“Government will not sanction any competition of that nature. Anyone who will persist with any activity related to witchcraft will face the full might of the law.”

The statement, released on Tuesday, said the Witchcraft Act of 1889 defines witchcraft, sorcery or the practice of voodoo as a punishable offence. “Government cannot sit back and watch while the lives of the citizens of this country are exposed to illegal and weird practices that have the potential to poison the minds of (Swazi people), especially children,” Simelane added.

“Government will not allow the voodoo competition — period!“ eSwatini has a population of 1.3 million people, with many following Christianity and indigenous beliefs.
The Times of Swaziland on Wednesday quoted “Africa Gama“, the organiser of the event, as saying the competition would have pit witchdoctors against traditional healers as under the previous king Sobhuza II, who died in 1982.

“The King was concerned about unnecessary competition among healers so he called them to one place so that they could demonstrate their powers,” he said. “I was competing with traditional healers, doctors, and prophets from across the world.”

Source: https://whenhow24..com/2019/07/government-bans-witchcraft-and-sorcery.html?m=1

N

End shall never wonder.

“The proposed competition of witchcraft and magic spells was unheard of in the country and it was regarded as an anomaly in the lives of the people of eSwatini,” government spokesman Percy Simelane said in a statement.

The above statement suggests the proposed competition would be the first to its kind as suggested by the expression "unheard of".

And then you went ahead to say

"... the competition would have pit witchdoctors against traditional healers as under the previous king Sobhuza II, who died in 1982".

This second statement implies the competition had been been taking place under the leadership of the previous leader.

Guys, please, point out where I missed it cause I find the two statements contradictory.

Meanwhile, except the competition is really dangerous and threatening to the lives of the citizens, it might be difficult finding a legal ground for banning it in a country where citizens have the right to any religion of their choice.

The whole thing reminds me of Merlin where sorcery is outlawed for similar reasons. Africa is very interesting and should be used as a connector between the western world and history.