Two Butchered to death over witchcraft accusation

It is said that the two men, were being accused of bewitching a 19 year old boy who died on Friday following a snake bite.

A video that has since gone viral on the social media shows some community members butcher the two in cold blood, with chants from people at the scene.

The incident has yet again sparkled debate on mob justice but also on questions about Malawi’s legal direction on witchcraft.

Meanwhile, Neno Police in Charge-Assistant Commissioner Dennis Nankondwa has the source that the police are treating the case as murder.

According to Nankondwa, the law enforcers have since instituted investigations into the matter so as to bring to book those responsible.

Meanwhile Executive Director for the Association of Circular Humanism in Malawi George Thindwa, has bemoaned the attack in Neno describing it as a worrisome development that must be stopped.

Thindwa, in an interview with the source, stressed the need to sensitize the masses on laws of Malawi which clearly prohibits suspecting any individual on witchcraft and ensure that culprits in the recent incident face the long arm of the law.

“The major problem is that Malawians can’t appreciate what the law says. People are also taking the laws into their hands. We need sensitization in the country. We are in a democratic society and the rule of law needs to guide us, ’’he told the source.

From 2018, the Malawi Law Commission had been reviewing the Witchcraft Act in Malawi which prohibits trial by ordeal, in which suspects are subjected to painful and unpleasant experience to prove their innocence.

The Act also outlaws the hiring of witch-finders and pretending to be a witch or practicing witchcraft.

According to the Act, people should report any act of witchcraft to the court, the police, the chief or other people in authority. Unfortunately, people take it upon themselves to punish suspects, usually to damage of property, injury and even death.