74% of Malawi’s Population Believe in Witchcraft

74 percent of Malawians are said to believe in witchcraft according to the latest report by the Afrobarometer.

The Northern region has a majority of Malawians who believe in witchcraft at 90 percent followed by the Southern region with 83 percent of Malawians while the Central region has the least number of Malawians who believe in witchcraft with 73 percent.

This is unveiled in nine survey results touching on two topics; Corruption and Malawians’ stance on Witchcraft in the country by the Center for Social Research (CSR) a local partner to the pan African research institute under the University of Malawi (UNIMA).

The report also says 66 percent of Christians believe in witchcraft while 79 percent of Muslims do.

According to Edister Jamu, the report gives a board picture as the country is planning to amend an old act that does not recognize Witchcraft.

He says most Malawians believe there is witchcraft and the elderly especially women are associated with Witchcraft.

Jamu adds that 6% of Malawians believe that witchcraft does cause misfortunes in marriages among others, 15% do believe that it caused sicknesses and 37% of citizens agree that through witchcraft one can be killed.

The report further says that elderly women are perceived to be more associated with witchcraft and face the consequences for the same.

Witchcraft is also associated with causing harm like killing through magic.