Government worried with attacks on elderly people
The Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Jean Kalirani, has expressed worry with continued cases of attacks against the elderly in communities on allegation of witchcraft.
According to Kalirani, the elderly face social exclusion—discrimination and in extreme cases death for being suspected of practicing witchcraft.
Kalirani was speaking in Lilongwe during a press briefing ahead of the commemoration of the 2017 International Day of Older Persons to be held on Wednesday, October 11 2017 in Chitipa District in the Northern Region of Malawi.
She said the commemoration is important as it raises awareness about issues affecting the elderly at the same time acknowledges the contributions that the elderly make to society.
Kalirani condemned attacks against the elderly stressing that the government will speed up the review of the Witchcraft Act to protect the elderly from all forms of abuse.
Malawi defines ‘elderly’ as any person who is above 60 years.
According to Kalirani government is currently providing different forms of support to 3 million elderly persons in the country.
Cases of elderly persons killed on allegations of witchcraft are quite common in Malawi despite having a clear law which prohibits anyone from professing to be a witch or wizard or accusing any person of witchcraft.
The current law which is under review was enacted in 1911.
What kind of support do you give them? I understand that you tell people in Europe that you build houses for every victim of witchcraft?’.,and you tell them that there’s no witchcraft or doesn’t exist…therefore police is not able to deal with this.. Police in not able to deal with youth political violence.. everything is failing in this country… so sad that poor elders innocent people they cant find protection in this country.. pena zikuwawa koma I believe one strong Malawian osawopa munthu adzalongosola izi… its simple