The Malawi Network of Older Persons (MANEPO) has asked police officers and the courts to pay serious attention to issues of abuse and killings of elderly people, and to ensure that justice is served.
Executive Director of the Malawi Network of Older Persons’ Organisations (MANEPO), Andrew Kavala, said this as cases involving the killing of elderly people due to accusations of witchcraft have reached 11 from January 2026 to April.
He added that the practice of accusing and killing elderly people is rapidly increasing in districts such as Salima, Dowa, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Phalombe, Mulanje, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Zomba, Neno, Chitipa, Karonga, Rumphi, Mzimba, Mzuzu, and Nkhata Bay.
Meanwhile, Chairperson for Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), Michael Kaiyatsa, has called on the government and non-governmental organisations to intensify awareness efforts among communities about the dangers of abusing and killing elderly people.
He says there is a need to introduce strict laws imposing severe penalties on those who commit such acts, even though the Witchcraft Act of 1911 already exists.
By Christina Mdolo
