Religion per say!, because i think if Africans were not divided by the various existing religions, witchcraft will not even come in to place, it is as a result of division that envy start which further graduates to witchcraft.

I want to think its somehow because the female gender has always been a weaker vessle compared to men, so may the pains inflicted was considered too. Tho its all not a good practice for both genders anyways.