PH
Police in Malawi have arrested 10 people suspected of involvement in the murder of four elderly people whom they believed were witches.
Nyasa Times reported that the suspects were arrested after they were identified by other survivors of the mob attack in the southern district of Neno.
“Our investigations have not ended. Those we have arrested were in the forefront. There are others who participated in the murders and we will arrest them,” a police spokesperson was reported as saying.
Those who were arrested were Staford Chifundo, 30, Amosi Sida, 32, Samuel Kaudzu, 20, John Harry, 21, Lex Mayenda, 19, Manford Dyson, 15, Patrick Kanjete, 14, Lyton Silence, 15, Ben Saukila, 14, and Elija Mapeto, 13.
The four elderly people – Byson Kanjete, 73, Eliza Enoce Kanjete, 86, Elenefa Kanjete, 76 and Idesi Julius Kanjete, 69 – were beaten to death by members of the community who accused them of being involved in witchcraft and causing the death of a 17-year-old girl, according to The Nation.
Following the incident, President Peter Mutharikaexpressed shock and urged the public to stop “accusing the elderly of witchcraft whenever someone dies”.
Police were still patrolling Neno.
