The quest for love portions has landed a woman in trouble after he was duped by a con herbalist who stealthily removed part of her private parts, The Weekend Times has learnt.

The woman identified as Esnart Bakili, 32, was desperate to win back her husband's affections as there was no love in her family. On July 27 this year, she decided to consult a witch doctor to find a solution to her family problems.

Eastern Region Police spokesperson Thomeck Nyaude confirmed the incident saying the herbalist gave the woman a bottle of soaked roots to drink and that after some minutes, she lost consciousness.

"The herbalist took advantage of the situation and cut the woman's clitoris with a razor blade and disappeared.

When the victim gained consciousness after about five hours, she was in a pool of blood and felt unbearable pain in her private parts," Nyaude said.

He said the victim reported to the police and was referred to Kalembo Health Centre where she is still admitted.

The woman is reportedly recovering well and has been able to walk in the last few days without complaining of any pain.

The police then launched a man hunt and successfully arrested the herbalist identified as Duncan Mdala. Mdala, 44, is from Nalikolo village T/A Chowe in Mangochi. Nyaude said they were not able to recover the private part which he cut from the woman's body.

"When we arrested him, he did not say anything other than complaining that his blood pressure was high as such he was not able to speak," he said.

He will appear before the court soon to answer charges of unlawful wounding.

The trade in private parts is a lucrative business across the border in South Africa where witch doctors use the parts for rituals to prolong life and to make one rich.

Last year the BBC reported that in Zimbabwe several prostitutes were arrested for being found with human sperms in condoms which they said were in high demand in South Africa for the same rituals.