Mob kills four elderly people in Neno over witchcraft
An irate mob from Chimbalanga in the area of Traditional Authority(T/A) Dambe in Neno yesterday went on rampage killing four elderly persons, and seriously injuring others on suspicion that they
killed a 17-year-old girl through witchcraft.
CAUTION: GRAPHIC CONTENT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS
Apparently, the 17-year-old girl died after she was struck by lightning while arranging buckets on a relative’s veranda to collect rain water,according to Neno Police Spokesperson Raphel Kaliati.
Kaliati identified the deceased as Byson Kanjete 73, Eliza Enoce Kanjete 86, Elenefa Kanjete 76 and Idesi Julius Kanjete 69, all grandparents of the late girl and hail from the same area.
“After the tragedy, the angry mob organized themselves and started beating the victims accusing them of being responsible for the death. They were severely beaten and had deep cuts in their heads, legs, arms and ribs,” explained Kaliati.
Kaliati said no one has been arrested in relation to the incident as they are waiting to get more information from an elderly man who is admitted at Neno District Hospital after being severely beaten during the fracas.
In Dedza, police are looking for four men suspected to have brutally killed their 70-year-old grandfather on suspicion that he was practicing witchcraft.
The deceased, Limion Julius of Mpango Village, Traditional Authority Kasumbu in the district, was accused of bewitching someone in the village who died at Dedza District Hospital after a short illness.
Police have since warned people against ill-treating the elderly in the name of witchcraft.
