Neno elders live in fear: Masterminds of Malawi witchracft murders issue threats
Elders in Chimbalanga village in chief Dambe’s area in Neno are said to be living in fear as those suspected to have killed four elders on Monday in the village continue to issue threats to alleged witches.
Village head Chimbalanga told a local radio that even himself is living in fear because of his advanced age.
“These people are issuing threats to all elderly people here. The elderly can no longer get out of their houses in fear of getting killed. If I were not village head, I would have left the village,” Chimbalanga said.
He said it was sad that village elders are now captives in their own land because they are now a target of an irate villagers who suspect them to be witches.
The tension in the village follows the beating to death of four elders on Tuesday, Eliza Kanjete, 86, Ayelinifa Kanjete, 76, Byson Kanjete 73 and Idesi Kanjete, 69 who were accused of killing 17 year old Flora Kanjete through witchcraft.
Apparently, the girl died after she was struck by lightning while arranging buckets on a relative’s veranda to collect rain water, according to Neno Police Spokesperson Raphel Kaliati.
The radio reporter said he had to be escorted in and out of the village, which was extraordinarily quiet on Wednesday except a few men in groups talking in low voices.
Police say they have not yet arrested anyone in connection with the murders and President Peter Mutharika has since ordered the inspector general of police to speed up the investigations in order to take to book the suspected murders.
In Dedza, police are looking for four men suspected to have brutally killed their 70-year-old grandfather on suspicion that he was practicing witchcraft.
The deceased, Limion Julius of Mpango Village, Traditional Authority Kasumbu in the district, was accused of bewitching someone in the village who died at Dedza District Hospital after a short illness.
President Mutharika wants to people change their attitudes towards witchcraft and realise the value of elderly persons in society.
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Zoti anthuwo anatumiza ndi bodza la nndene. Chiphaliwali chinabwera mwachilengedwe.
Bodza lokhalokha ili. Nobody can create a lightning to kill somebody. Where is the proof that those killed were practising witchcraft?
The witchcraft practice really exist in our land. I was a victim myself whereby some family members (elders and youth alike) bewitched me and spent 4 months suffering, most of the times in a coma. My young brother took me to hospital and after spending some weeks I was discharged but still the situation was worsening. Then I was taken to a Sangoma where I was told that I was bewitched by some close relatives which he mentioned their names. I went back to the village and called those people who did it to me and asked for their forgiveness… Read more »
O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………O I wish the army could forthwith be deployed into this village and whip these brutes into line; otherwise these stories of elderly people being threatened, are a painful sting in the tail. Most of us live and never appreciate the value of freedom; until we lose it. . . . But people pay their lives as price for want of freedom (when heart-broken or cornered for crimes and other miseamenours). . . . The air that a prisoner breathes, becomes fresher the moment news of his/her release touches his/her ears; even without moving a foot to anywhere. Now to… Read more »
Kodi Thindwa uli kuti?
THAT IS A GOOD DECISION MR PRESIDENT BUT YOU MUST ALSO ARREST THOSE PEOPLE WHO KILLED ISSA NJAUJU AND BARRY HIM IN YOUR PRESIDENTAL VILLAS BUT YOU KEPT QUITE THAT MEANS YOU KNOW SOMETHING MURDER IS MURDER WHETHER IS DONE IN A VILLAGE OR IN YOUR VILLAS
Can someone who practices witch craft, if any, come in the open and tell us witch crafts exists or not. By they way, has Thindwa been wichcrafted yet?
All those suspected of involvement in the murder of any persons on trumped up charges of witchcraft should be immediately reported to the police, who should immediately take action against the murderers. Regrettably, it is the case that in a number of African countries that young children and elderly people are being hounded on trumped-up accusations of witchcraft and – in extreme cases – murdered. The reason for this behaviour is apparently the fact that during times of economic hardship it is easy for adults to pick on vulnerable individuals who cannot make a full economic contribution to family and… Read more »
Send the Army to Nneno – arrest them all, the whole village, the Kamuzu way studpid small boys who did not go to school. Mfiti ndani adamuona, its African Science which need to be developed and sold to the western countries, but our realy witches are too dumb to come to the open regardless of the promise of million from one Humanistic man. How can we live without our elders, our president is an old man – is he a witch? A chair is an old man is he a witch? What is this in Malawi today – land of… Read more »
Kodi zigawenga zapha azigogo anayizo, zilibe agogo kwawo? Nkulakwa kuganizira munthu ufiti usanatsimikidze.
Ndipemphero langa kuti Mizimu yaophedwa mwauchifwamba ikautse mwa Mbuye pamene mizimu yaopha azigogo Mulungu achite nayo!!!!
A Polisi chonde pangani monga Prezidenti wa Dziko wanenera.