Nice engages people on rights of the elderly
National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has asked community members in Mzimba District to protect the rights of the elderly and persons with albinism.
Nice Trust acting executive director Grey Kalindekafe made the call in Mzimba on Tuesday when the trust in conjunction with Malawi Network of Older Persons (Manepo) and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) engaged people at Eswazini on the evils of ill-treating the elderly and persons with albinism.
He said it was sad that people continue to harass the elderly on witchcraft accusations.
Said Kalindekafe: “The recent attacks on two elderly women on witchcraft allegations prompted us to conduct sensitisation meetings on how best to resolve such conflicts.
“We want people to respect the rights of the elderly because they are our senior citizens.”
He said everyone has the right to life, including the elderly and persons with albinism, as such, people should stop attacking them.
“If there are issues, refer them to relevant authorities such as police, courts or religious leaders,” said Kalindekafe.
Manepo director Andrew Kavala condemned humiliating old people, saying it violates their rights and dignity.
He said: “The elderly are the same people we have seen growing up and we should learn to take care of them. Yet today we turn and accuse them of being witches.
“Every one of us will grow old someday. The elderly have wisdom they can share with us.”
Group village head Symon Mphepo commended the organisations for engaging the community on the country’s Constitution and human rights issues.
“We now know that taking the law into our own hands is a crime. We will seek to resolve conflicts amicably,” he said.
The meeting followed the harassment of 77-year-old Christina Mphande of Mandala Zimba Village in Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande, who was forced to bury her daughter-in-law on suspicion that she bewitched her.
Malawi’s Witchcraft Act of 1911 does not recognise existence of witchcraft and states that it is an offence to accuse anyone of practising witchcraft.
