3 people kill uncle over witchcraft accusation: Malawi Police make arrests

Malawi Police in Ntcheu district have arrested three people for allegedly killing their 65-year-old uncle Hudson Banga in suspicion that he killed their 27-year-old brother Lingson Billy through witchcraft.

Lingson, according to police, was killed by a lightening on Wednesday 17th February, 2016 and rumours went viral that his uncle Hudson Banga was behind the death.

Ntcheu police Public Relations Officer, Gift Matewere told Nyasa Times that Banga was stoned to death by the accused.

“Two sisters and a young brother to the deceased did not take those rumours lightly. They went to their uncle and confronted him but later chaos erupted where the uncle was stoned and hit by different objects to death,” explained Matewere.

Matewere said the three Esnart 24, Rose 22 years old and Mac Yon Billy, 14, surrendered themselves to Tsangano police unit where a docket of murder was opened.

The suspects hail from Kamuyanga village, T/A Mpando in the district.

Meanwhile as police, we are urging the general public to desist from taking the law into their own hands and learn to refer their grievances to relevant authorities.

In January an angry mob in Neno district gruesomely killed four elderly people suspected of practicing witchcraft following the mysterious death of a teenage girl.

According to police a lightning struck to death a 17 year –old girl identified as Flora Kanjete, making some villagers to believe that witchcraft was at play.

The irate villagers then descend on 86 year old Eliza Kanjete, Elenefa Kanjete aged 76, Byson Kanjete aged 76 and 69 year-old Julius Kanjete.

About 10 people were arrested in relation to the incident.