Malawi police remand 2 on witchcraft allegations
Malawi Police in Mchinji have arrested two people on allegations that they wanted to bewitch a person over chieftaincy wrangles.
Police spokesperson in Mchinji Kaitano Lubrino identified the suspects in the witchcraft case as Alexander Mickson, 27 and Andrew Patrick Dewu who are accused of planning to bewitch Lonzo Zimba over chieftaincy of Delu.
Lubrino said a witchdoctor whom the two suspects allegedly contacted for the killing mission reported the matter to Dewu who later reported it to the police.
“The police acted swiftly by arresting the two suspects. They have since been charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace,” said Lubrino.
The laws of the country do not recognize witchcraft, a Biblical age issue which has forced the government, through a special law commission on witchcraft, to solicit views from Malawians on whether the State should recognize witchcraft or not.
Mchinji district commissioner has said the laws should recognize witchcraft, saying as a district commissioner, he has seen some evidence compelling him to believe the existence of witchcraft.
However, an anti-witchcraft activist George Thindwa said what exists is the belief that there is witchcraft in the country but witchcraft does not exist and dismissed the state decision to solicit views on the matter as resource and time wasting.
Zimba is a businessman and boxing promoter.
The two suspects are remanded at Maula prison in Lilongwe.
Dewu once served as traditional leader Delu before the courts removed him from the position.
Belief in witchcraft runs deep in this conservative nation, where curses and spells are blamed for everything from unexplained deaths to the spread of HIV/Aids to irregular rainfall
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This matter is not about witchcraft but chieftainship wrangle. The scramble for power is more than 40 years old. The only difference is that politics is now being used to set scores. Your leaders may wish to know that Lonzo’s grand father, Richard, was deposed of the same chieftainship and was jailed on murder suspicion. Lonzo has made the DPP in the constituency a very hated party. MC police and DC must separate such issues. They should not be dragged into wrangle in the pretext of ensuring law and order. It is not long ago when a police unit at… Read more »
What has the police done to the witch doctor? The Act is clear, whosoever accuse another of being a witch commits a crime. Why do we act ad if we don’t read our Acts.
This story is wrong and confusing. In Mchinji there is no Chief Dewu. There is Chief Mduwa and Mdelu was indeed the former chief but due to corrupt justice system the Court deposed him. Every bonafide person of TA Mduwa knows Mdelu is the right TA. There is clear history that all former chiefs Mpenuka, Kambakula and Isake except Richard came from Mdelu dynasty. It is very likely that this case was a trap set to kick Mdelu off because people in the TA want Mdelu to inherit the chieftainship. DPP through Lonzo is causing confusion in the TA. This… Read more »
Why remanding them I thought mumati ufiti kulibe. if laws of this country do not recognize witchcraft which law have they broken for them to be in police custody
STATE DOESN’T RECOGNISE WITCHCRAFT ??
HOW ?? WHERE ?? WHAT ??
QS
WHY ARE ALBINOS BEING HUNTED
LIKE WILD ANIMALS ??
WHERE DO THEY GO ??
WHO EATS THEIR MEAT ??
IS THAT NOT WITCHCRAFT ??