TWO MURDERED OVER BLOODSUCKING CLAIMS

An angry mob killed two people and set ablaze their vehicle after accusing them of being blood suckers.

The incident, according to Nkhotakota Police spokesperson Williams Kaponda, happened at Chamba Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Malengachanzi in the lakeshore district.

Kaponda said according to a watchman working at a mobile network tower on Sani Hill, the victims approached and notified him of being within the hill for overnight prayers.

“While there, people from the surrounding area approached the watchman and confronted him on the presence of strange people there. They accused him of hiding blood suckers and thereafter the villagers searched for the two and upon finding them, they stoned them to death before setting their vehicle ablaze,” Kaponda said.

Police have identified the two as Benedicto Kantchere from Chikango Village, T/A Mwansambo and Dickson Gwiriza from Tongole Village, T/A Mphonde, both from Nkhotakota.

So far, no one has been arrested in connection with the murder.

The incident comes days after the police rescued two people whom irate villagers wanted to kill at Lozi Trading Centre in the district over similar accusations.

Earlier, President Peter Mutharika condemned attacks related to bloodsucking rumours and directed the Malawi Defence Force to work together with police to deal with the attacks which have now left at least 11 people dead.

Chitipa, Karonga, Mzimba, Kasungu, Ntchisi and Mchinji are among the districts identified as hotspots of attacks related to bloodsucking rumours, according to police.