All Outputs (13)

Forensics, Witchcraft Accusations, and Ritual Murders (2025)
Digital Artefact

In this gripping episode, we sit down with Dr. Keith Silika, a Zimbabwean-born criminal investigator whose extraordinary journey has positioned him at the crossroads of two worlds most of us never see intersect.

Raised between his father’s traditi... Read More about Forensics, Witchcraft Accusations, and Ritual Murders.

Kindoki Witchcraft Film Premier (2025)
Exhibition / Performance

As part of my work with the International Work against harmful practices, I have been asked to co  host Kindoki, the documentary film about Madoche, a boy accused of witchcraft and then abused. The main premiere will be at SOAS, June 13, secured loca... Read More about Kindoki Witchcraft Film Premier.

Cursed Justice: Zambia's Witchcraft Trials and the Struggle for Evidence-Based Law (2025)
Newspaper / Magazine

Dr Keith Silika discusses how admitting contested confessions and ritual objects challenge the norms of evidence-based justice—and why this could signal a dangerous precedent

A Decade of Silence. The Unsolved Case of Itai Dzamara. (2025)
Newspaper / Magazine

In this post, I use my previous experience of working for the Police in Zimbabwe and the UK to analyse the case of journalist cum political activist Itai Dzamara. Dzamara was abducted by unknown agents in broad day light in Harare 9th of March 2015... Read More about A Decade of Silence. The Unsolved Case of Itai Dzamara..

From Healer’s Son to Policeman: Tracing My Journey Through Witchcraft, Policing, and Harmful Killings in Southern Africa (2025)
Newspaper / Magazine

Blog article on the trajectory of witchcraft research in a forensic context

Algorithmic Compassion: AI's Emerging Paradigm in Missing Persons Investigations (2025)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Inspired by Jo Callaghan's exploration of technological innovation, this paper critically examines artificial intelligence's emergent role in missing persons investigations. The research investigates how machine learning algorithms can provide unprec... Read More about Algorithmic Compassion: AI's Emerging Paradigm in Missing Persons Investigations.

Witchcraft's Shadow: Ritual Killings and Policing Challenges in Zimbabwe (2024)
Presentation / Conference
Silika, K. (2024, September). Witchcraft's Shadow: Ritual Killings and Policing Challenges in Zimbabwe. Paper presented at International Network Against Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks, Lancaster, UK

Witchcraft, despite its precolonial roots, casts a persistent shadow over modern Zimbabwe. Even amidst advancements in education and technology, harmful practices like ritual killings remain deeply embedded, claiming a disturbing 40% of the nation's... Read More about Witchcraft's Shadow: Ritual Killings and Policing Challenges in Zimbabwe.

Podcast: Ensuring Safety and Security for Human Rights Defenders (2024)
Digital Artefact
Silika, K. (in press). Podcast: Ensuring Safety and Security for Human Rights Defenders. [Podcast]

In this episode, host Mantate Mlotshwa speaks with Dr. Keith Silika about the challenges facing human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Dr. Silika, an expert in policing and forensic analysis, discusses the current climate for activists, strategies for p... Read More about Podcast: Ensuring Safety and Security for Human Rights Defenders.

Book Review: Why the police should be trained by Black people (2024)
Journal Article
Silika, K. (in press). Book Review: Why the police should be trained by Black people. Policing and Society, 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2023.2296083

State crimes in Zimbabwe, from Mugabe to the new dispensation, a case of old wine in different bottles. (2023)
Digital Artefact
Silika, K. (2023). State crimes in Zimbabwe, from Mugabe to the new dispensation, a case of old wine in different bottles

When the November 2017 coup occurred in Zimbabwe, there was a pseudo renewed optimism and euphoria over new prospects for the country. Zimbabwe, a former British colony, had lived in the perpetual shadow of Robert Mugabe, the man who had ruled the co... Read More about State crimes in Zimbabwe, from Mugabe to the new dispensation, a case of old wine in different bottles..

Thousands of unidentified Zimbabweans lie in secret mass graves – and I want to find them (2020)
Other
Silika, K. (2020). Thousands of unidentified Zimbabweans lie in secret mass graves – and I want to find them. London

In this piece, I give an outline of my personal and professional journey towards mass grave investigation.

Gukurahundi Mass Graves (2020)
Digital Artefact
Silika, K. Gukurahundi Mass Graves

In this podcast, I offer an overview of mass graves in Zimbabwe and forensics opportunities around the search and the missing

Ethical Issues of Working with Human Remains in Zimbabwe (2019)
Book Chapter
Silika, K., & Squires, K. (2019). Ethical Issues of Working with Human Remains in Zimbabwe. In K. Squires, D. Errickson, & N. Márquez-Grant (Eds.), Ethical Approaches To Human Remains. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32926-6_28

Four key conflicts have taken place in Zimbabwe over the past 50 years.
These events have resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and have consequently led to ongoing tensions between the state, victims, and community groups.
Moreover, the s... Read More about Ethical Issues of Working with Human Remains in Zimbabwe.