CHRR, CEDEP ask for govt effort in ending bloodsuckers myths

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) have asked the government to take a big step in ending issues of bloodsuckers in the country that have caused panic in the country mostly, in the northern districts of Malawi.

In a press statement signed by CHRR Acting Executive Director Michael Kayaitsa and CEDEP Executive Director Gift Trapence, the two organizations condemned the acts of violence due to the myth about bloodsuckers.

The two organizations have noted that people have lost lost their lives and others injured due the myths of bloodsuckers.

“It is disheartening to note that people are being assaulted and some have since been killed including two people who were stoned to death in Nkhotakota,” they explained.

They also saw that health workers were attacked in the course of doing their duties in Salima after the health workers were suspected of being blood suckers. Five people were severely assaulted, two vehicles were smashed and one was set on fire.

According to the organizations, the consequences of the rumors on social and health services are immense especially this time around when the country is facing a coronavirus pandemic.

They also noted that the propagation of blood suckers’ rumors has a potential to undermine or derail efforts to contain the spread of the virus, which is escalating almost every day.

The organizations therefore asked different ministers , faith based organizations  and Malawi Police Service (MPs) to join hands in ending the issue of blood suckers before a lot of people lose their lives.