Mulanje supports amendment of witchcraft act

By Nyasa Times
Published: November 26, 2009
witches1Mulanje supports amendment of witchcraft act
MULANJE, NOVEMBER 20, MANA: Chiefs, religious leaders and other stakeholders in Mulanje Thursday agreed that the current Witchcraft Act be amended so that perpetrators of witchcraft get punished.
The suggestions for amendment of the act follow a consultative meeting held at Mulanje organized by the Malawi Law Commission to solicit ideas from the public on how to address the witchcraft problem.
Stakeholders commended government through the Malawi Law Commission for the consultative meetings, saying stories about witchcraft were widespread and endangered people’s lives.
In his remarks, Senior Chief Malemia of Nsanje, who is one of the commissioners, said the issue of witchcraft could not be left to the Law Commission alone to decide on how to curb it.
An official at Malawi Law Commission, Isaac Songeya, said the current witchcraft act was instituted on May 12, 1911 adding that due to increasing witchcraft related incidences the commission had been getting calls for the amendment of the act since 1996.
At the meeting stakeholders agreed that witchcraft existed and that the act be amended to punish the culprits. The meeting also agreed that civic education be conducted to sensitise people to avoid victimizing innocent people especially the elderly.
It was also agreed that matters of witchcraft be settled in traditional courts comprising of a magistrate, traditional leaders as well as herbalists who would determine whether witchcraft took place or not.
Songeya said all the views that were suggested at the meeting would be discussed at a regional meeting to be held after the district consultative meetings.

witches1Chiefs, religious leaders and other stakeholders in Mulanje Thursday agreed that the current Witchcraft Act be amended so that perpetrators of witchcraft get punished.

The suggestions for amendment of the act follow a consultative meeting held at Mulanje organized by the Malawi Law Commission to solicit ideas from the public on how to address the witchcraft problem.

Stakeholders commended government through the Malawi Law Commission for the consultative meetings, saying stories about witchcraft were widespread and endangered people’s lives.

In his remarks, Senior Chief Malemia of Nsanje, who is one of the commissioners, said the issue of witchcraft could not be left to the Law Commission alone to decide on how to curb it.

An official at Malawi Law Commission, Isaac Songeya, said the current witchcraft act was instituted on May 12, 1911 adding that due to increasing witchcraft related incidences the commission had been getting calls for the amendment of the act since 1996.

At the meeting stakeholders agreed that witchcraft existed and that the act be amended to punish the culprits. The meeting also agreed that civic education be conducted to sensitise people to avoid victimizing innocent people especially the elderly.

It was also agreed that matters of witchcraft be settled in traditional courts comprising of a magistrate, traditional leaders as well as herbalists who would determine whether witchcraft took place or not.

Songeya said all the views that were suggested at the meeting would be discussed at a regional meeting to be held after the district consultative meetings.

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