President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has come out of his cocoon to condemn the recent tragedy in Neno where four elderly people murdered in cold blood by angry mob suspecting them of killing a 17 year old girl using lightning, saying the act is uncalled for.
Mutharika said this in a statement released on Wednesday from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) signed by Presidential Press Officer Gerald Viola.
“The President is saddened by the brutal acts of the mob in Chimbalanga Village and has since ordered the Inspector General of the Malawi Police Services to investigate the matter and bring to justice and trial of all those involved in the killing of the four innocent people,” reads in part the statement by Viola.
Mutharika says his administration will not sit-back at watch elderly people being victimized because of witchcraft accusations.
“President Mutharika is again reminding Malawians to stop accusing the elderly of witchcraft whenever someone dies. The President says the elderly people deserve respect and protection at all costs and that His Government will not tolerate any victimization of the elderly people in this country,” said Viola.
The four elderly people namely Eliza Kanjete, 86, Ayelinifa Kanjete, 76, Byson Kanjete, 73 and Idesi Kanjete 69 were beaten to death at Chimbalanga village in chief Dambe’s area in Neno and were laid to rest on Tuesday.
Meanwhile no one has been arrested in connection with the gruesome murder of the four people.