Chakwera warns against mob justice on elderly people

By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

President Lazarus Chakwera has once again spoken tough against the killing of elderly people in Malawi on suspicions of practicing witchcraft.

He made the remarks at a development rally he addressed at the end of the launch of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact 2 project that the Government of America is funding towards the construction of four road corridors across the seven districts of the country.

Addressing thousands of people who gathered at Ndaula school ground in the area of Senior Chief Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe, Chakwera wondered if Human Rights Defenders groups are only meant for political matters, while leaving other equally important sectors like the elderly to suffer in silence.

Chakwera pleaded with various Human Rights Defenders organization in the country to defend the rights of the older people from mob justice on suspicions of practicing witchcraft.

“In our communities, elderly are suffering, traumatized, killed for rumored to be witches, but Human Rights Defenders, none of them are speaking up.

We cannot have a country run by mob rule, mob justice. That must stop” lamented President Chakwera, urging all duty bearers to abide to the rule of law, saying everyone is innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

The Malawi leader, further urged Malawians not to waste time fighting among themselves, but to live together in peace, tolerance, and harmony.

“As Malawians, we are well-known for keeping our culture, living together, and with very good manners, but we have adopted new bad culture which cannot build our communities, maybe because we politicize everything . This must stop, and let’s stand on justice” added the President.

On the just launched MCC Compact 2 project, President Chakwera said he will not entertain anyone whose heart is full of envy, jealousy, and discrimination, saying they are enemies of development for Malawi.

During the rally at Ndaula, President Chakwera who is also the President of Malawi Congress Party had declared his acceptance to lead MCP in the next year’s Tripartite elections as its torchbearer if the party’s convention unanimously endorses him in August this year