Stakeholders meet to criminalise witchcraft in Malawi

Experts, traditional leaders and other stakeholders are meeting in Lilongwe to formulate a law that would recognize and criminalise witchcraft.

Paramount Chief Kyungu  (R)of Karonga on Thursday asked government to start criminalize those practicing witchcraft claiming it is real.

This follows a spate of incidents across the country where the elderly have been killed in cold blood over allegations that they were practising witchcraft

The stakeholders, attending the national consultative workshop on the review of the Witchcraft Act, might hold solutions to the killings.

Commissioners of the Special Law Commission on the Review of the Act have made a number of presentations on the status of the exercise.

They said the Commission has so far found that the majority of Malawians believe that witchcraft exists.

In a presentation Commissioner, Dr. Mathew Theu said some people believe that witches sometimes make themselves invisible, travel through the air in a flying basket and engage in dancing and walking at night whilst naked.

The Commission recommended that the law should recognize the existence of witchcraft and criminalise it .

But some stakeholders attending the meeting have expressed reservations on the recommendations describing the act as a mere belief while some said it shall be difficult to find evidence  to prosecute suspects in witchcraft related cases.

The Special Law Commission has also recommended that there should be a process to formulate legislation dealing with matters relating to Satanism.

In a presentation Commissioner Sangster Nkhandwe of the Special Law Commission said : ” Satanism is a totally different harmful practice and since some members of the general public consider it to be a religion, there is need for a thorough research into the matter .”

Paramount Chief Kyungu supported the standby the Special Law Commission that witchcraft be criminalised saying ” it is real, and people are suffering”.

The exercise aims at amending a 1911 Witchcraft law currently being used in the country.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
7 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Nsena waku Mangochi
Nsena waku Mangochi
4 years ago

Koma guys. There are real issues that need legislation reform, issues of rape, gender equality, labor laws. We are wasting resources on this nonsense. In 2020 Koma!

JO GALU WAFA
4 years ago

i said it long before kuti witchcraft exist and as it stands now our laws protect and shield witches and leaves ordinary people vulnerable. even bible on galatians 5:20 says witches will never inherit God kingdom.

Ida
Ida
4 years ago

But how are we going to prove that someone has been bewitched in a court of law?

Yunuyan
Yunuyan
4 years ago

How are we going to prove witchcraft in a court of law? Has anyone ever have had evidence of such apart from conspiracies and mere suspicion? You so called stakeholders are just wasting resources discussing this topic

Nanyati
Nanyati
4 years ago

Zauchitsilu basi

Ndafera Nkhande
Ndafera Nkhande
4 years ago

Nfiti zilipo tisanamizane apa.Mpofunika kuunika bwino kuti athakati azxilangidwa kudzera ku makhothi.Anthu akunzunza anzawo mmatsenga ndiye win adziti ufiti kulibe?Ayi tere apa muunike bwino bwino apo bii anthu adzingophana ngati zilirimu.

Mulopwana
4 years ago

Mmuuuu. Mwati chani? Difficult cases at hand. Get ready lawyers

Read previous post:
Chakwera defends decision to accept Luanar chancellorship: Urges graduating students to be innovative.

President Lazarus Chakwera has defended his decision to accept the position of chancellorship at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar)...

Close