The Malawi Police Service has condemned the recent gruesome murder of four elderly people on suspicion that they killed a 17-year old girl through witchcraft.

In a statement released on Tuesday signed by National Police Spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa made available to FaceofMalawi, the Police described the murder as total deprivation of one’s life.

“It is against this background that police have moved swiftly to arrest all perpetrators of this gruesome murder and expects speedy prosecution of the case.

“Killing of suspected criminals popularly known as Mob Justice is illegal and should not be tolerated in our peaceful country, Malawi,” reads the statement in part.

Gondwa said justice cannot be obtained from mob injustice and he went to condemn the barbaric acts and killings targeting the elderly persons and suspected criminals.

“As police we would like to emphasize that the current Laws of Malawi do not recognize witchcraft and that calling a person a witch is an offence. Furthermore, section 16 of the Constitution of Malawi provides that every person has the right to life and that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life,” added Gondwa.

Meanwhile Police have arrested 12 people in connection to the gruesome murder of four people namely Eliza Kanjete, 86, Ayelinifa Kanjete, 76, Byson Kanjete, 73 and Idesi Kanjete 69.