President Lazarus Chakwera and Minister of Homeland Security Jean Sendeza have remained mum on the abuse of elderly women in Mzimba.
Chakwera has not spoken out on the ill-treatment of the two women who were forced to bury a dead person on their own following allegations that they killed the person through witchcraft.
Sendeza whose ministry is responsible for the police is also yet to release a statement to condemn the abuse of the elderly.
Meanwhile, Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande has taken action over the abuse of the elderly women.
The traditional leader has suspended Group Village Headman Zebedia Ziyiri and village headmen Mandala Zimba and Alufeyo Mbale for failing to control young people who ill-treated the two women.
The chief noted that the incident has put the entire nation to shame.
Yesterday, Malawi Network for Older Persons’ Organizations (MANEPO) called upon the Malawi Police Service (MPS) to arrest the people involved in the abuse of the elderly women.
“We hold it that escalation of abuse, discrimination and even killings of older persons can be explained by continued failure by law enforcement agencies to prosecute those who accuse older men and women of practising witchcraft.
“The uncoordinated responses at various levels of the justice administrative system and the absence of structured community support systems continue to make Malawi one of the worse countries for one to grow old in Africa,” the organisation said.
Malawi’s Witchcraft Act of 1911 doesn’t recognise existence of witchcraft and states that it is an offence to accuse anyone of practising witchcraft.
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