74% OF MALAWIANS STILL BELIEVE IN WITCHCRAFT

By Franklin Mtambalika 

Despite the country’s constitution not recognizing witchcraft, a majority of Malawians still believe in its existence.

According to this year’s Afrobarometer report, about 74% of Malawians believe people practice witchcraft in the country and have supported calls to criminalize it.

The survey released on Thursday in Lilongwe shows that the elderly, especially elderly women, are at the greatest risk of being victims of witchcraft accusations.

The calls to criminalize witchcraft emerged in 2018 and 2020 but were silenced due to lack of evidence on such accusations.

Meanwhile, a socialist and humanist Wonderful Mkhutche said it is worrying to note that the majority of Malawians still embrace the belief, saying a lot needs to be done to raise awareness on the same.

Mkhutche said the laws should come out clear on how victims of witchcraft-based violence can be protected, and how policies will be developed to bar the further spread of information which fuels the malpractice.