UN calls on Malawi authorities to crackdown on ‘blood suckers’ lynch mobs
United Nations officials have asked authorities in the country to act with speed in ending blood suckers killings.
The UN condemnation of the killings come at a time the country has registered close to 12 myth driven killings.
In a statement made available to Nyasa Times, Maria Jose Torres, UN Resident Coordinator for Malawi has called on national and local authorities to conduct immediate investigations into all attacks; arresting and prosecuting alleged perpetrators; delivering social, psychological and medical support for victims; and rapid action to dispel the harmful beliefs that lead to these attacks.
At least 10 people have been killed in the north in the past three weeks, including two people were murdered in Mzimba around March 23; two people burnt to death in Chitipa around March 25 and one man murdered in Rumphi on 4 April.
In addition, 10 separate violent attacks were reported during the same period in Kasungu, Ntchisi, Dowa, Mchinji, Karonga and Nkhata Bay.
“These attacks included violent assaults on police officers and health workers, as well as the destruction of buildings and vehicles.
“Dangerous myths and misinformation are feeding these vigilante attacks, which constitute serious breaches of Malawian criminal law and human rights standards,” says Torres.
She says the UN Malawi commends efforts to date by authorities to arrest suspects of these criminal acts as well as local messaging to speak out against this senseless behavior.
“The UN calls on national and local authorities to act urgently, including by conducting immediate investigations into all attacks; arresting and prosecuting alleged perpetrators; delivering social, psychological and medical support for victims; and rapid action to dispel the harmful beliefs that lead to these attacks.
“Members of Parliament can play an important role by countering misinformation in their constituencies, while religious and traditional leaders can send clear messages to their communities,” reads the statement.
Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi has assured Malawians that the police are working round the clock to put the situation under control.
BBC has reported on Tuesday that four Malawians have been killed in Mozambique on suspicion that they were blood suckers.
Educational standards are low in Malawi, with belief in witchcraft widespread. Vigilante violence linked to vampire rumours also erupted in the country in 2017 and in 2002.
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This is being sponsored by the DPP in order to disturb voter registration and next election. Mr Mutharika and his cohorts should stop this nonsense.
Who has been desperately pushing for elections? Chakwera and Chilima. Who has been inciting violence? Chakwera. Who went on Times TV and asked people to form vigilante groups to beat and kill people? Chakwera. Who formed the Nsundwe Boys? Chakwera. And therefore Chakwera is responsible for bloodsucker rumours. He is the one who has deployed groups to spread blood-sucker rumours. He is organising mobs and killers. In fact, he also sent evil men to kill albinos just before 2019 elections to implicate the DPP government.
The UN and donors need to know that it is Chakwera who is organising the blood-sucker rumours, violence and killings. His intention is to show that the DPP government is failing so that MCP take power – or he takes power.
My take is that the Intention is to Spread FEAR and Panic in Areas perceived to be pro opposition so as to Divert people’s attention from What people have been pushing for ….Resignation of MEC ,forth coming Elections ….As I stated the other day the architect of these rumours is somewhere laughing in a Corner …all of a sudden people in these areas have forgotten everything and are focusing on these false rumours ….
The blood sucker rumours and violence is being perpetrated by MCP and UTM to discredit government. It was the same opposition that also unleashed the albino killings so that government is seen as failing on security. That’s why these evil acts happen during preparations for elections. Chakwera is the one organising these lynch mobs in order to discredit government. There is need for robust intelligence gathering to get to the sources of those nasty and targeted misinformation and punish the perpetrators.