Fear engulfs Mzimba over 38 tombstones desecrated in Malawi graveyards
Villagers in Mbalachanda, in Malawi’s northern district of Mzimba are living in fear and anxiety
after 38 tombstones have been desecrated.
The mysterious looting of these tombstones follows a series of murder cases where five people have been killed in January alone.
Speaking to Nyasa Times on Sunday village headman Yakolowoka Zimba said they first discovered 13 tombstones destroyed in his village’s graveyard in January.
Village headman Yakolowola Zimba said the destruction has now spread to five more villages including Katongomala Botha, Dokeni Nyirenda, Kadoda Nyirenda, Kambuzi Mzumala and Mkunjuma.
He said a total of 38 tombstones have since been destroyed but they are yet to figure out the motive behind these destructions.
”We are now living in fear and we don’t know what will come next. Traditionally, graveyards are the most respected and feared places where our ancestral spirits rests and for someone to go and destroy these graves is strange and mysterious,” said the village headman.
He said the matter was reported to Mbalachanda police post officer in-charge Paul Kuchawe but the law enforcers did help either.
”The officer in charge told us not to worry about the dead. That despite these strange things happening, they will do nothing,” he said.
Member of Parliament for the area Josephy Mabvuto Kachali confirmed receiving reports on the rooting of the graveyards.
He said people in the affected communities are yet to establish the motive behind the bizarre acts. He said it would help if police took the issue seriously.
The MP has since pledged to engage the police to fully investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.
