The Advocacy for Alleged Witches welcomes the cooperation between the police and advocates in the fight against witch persecution and killing in Malawi. Malawi is one of the countries in Africa where witch-hunting is pervasive. Although witchcraft accusations are against the law, witchcraft allegations are rampant. Alleged witches are attacked, banished, or killed. There have been instances where alleged witches have been stoned to death. The houses and other property of suspected witches are seized or destroyed. The targets are often vulnerable members of the population, women, and elderly persons who live in rural communities. In rural areas, there is limited state presence. And limited state presence means that police intervention is few and far apart. Police interventions are coming too little too late.
To fill this gap, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches has called for an institutional synergy in the fight against witch persecution in the region. No one institution can wage this fight alone. The police, courts, and other state and nonstate agencies need to work together in combating witch persecution. All institutions must cooperate and share intelligence and expertise in addressing the problem. Traditional, religious, and nonreligious organizations must work together to fulfill the collective duty of ending witch-hunting in communities.
AfAW welcomes a recent joint effort of advocates and police to address the problem of witch persecution in Malawi.
Our advocate Wonderful Mkhutche shared this report on his Facebook page. He said: “Last Saturday, I was in Mulanje in conjunction with Muloza Police to address recent cases of witchcraft-based violence. We talked to the community leaders and members that witchcraft is a mere belief, and violence harms the community and breaks the law”. It is pertinent that any effort to combat witch-hunting stresses the idea that witchcraft is a make-believe; that witches are imaginary entities. That witchcraft is a form of superstition, a belief based on fear and ignorance. This emphasis is needed in reorientating community members and realizing a mentality and cultural shift.
Mkhutche further stated: “But as soon as we arrived back at the police station, the officer in charge was telling us of another case and was asking the officers to rush to the scene where another granny was accused of killing a young family member through witchcraft. Then yesterday, an 87-year-old granny’s house in Mulanje was destroyed and she was beaten as she was accused of ‘arresting the rain’. Then he said: “This is getting too much! But I will keep saying it; witchcraft only exists as a belief. After this event, one granny told me, “Muzibwerabwera. Miyoyo yathu iri pa chiopysezo kuno( Be coming often, our lives are in danger)”.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges state authorities to sponsor visits of state and non-state agencies to communities that are notorious for witchcraft accusations and witch persecutions. They should establish hotlines that people can call to notify authorities of actual or potential cases of witch-hunting. The government should build shelters where suspected witches could go and seek refuge. Community visits will help reduce the risks and dangers that suspected witches face, and reassure old women and other vulnerable people of their safety and protection in the communities.
Leo Igwe is a human rights activist and the founder of the Nigerian Humanist Movement. He directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, the Critical Thinking Social Empowerment Foundation and was the Western and Southern African representative to IHEU, the International Humanist and Ethical Union. He can be reached by email HERE.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
