The number of elderly people killed over witchcraft accusations this year has reached 12, with the latest case reported in Dowa District this week.
Dowa Police Station spokesperson Alice Sitima has identified the latest victim as Positani Kachipewa, who came from Chikonkha Village, Traditional Authority Mkukula, in the Central Region district.
Police allege that Kachipewa was assaulted on April 13, 2026 by nephew Rodwell Nduna, who is on the run.
Sitima said the victim was assaulted around 15:00 hours on the fateful day.
She said Kachipewa’s wife, Fungenji Sengani, told police officers that Kachipewa was recently accused of practising witchcraft by some relatives, including the suspect.
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“On the day of the incident, Nduna confronted his uncle at his home, where he produced a hammer and struck him on the head several times, leaving him unconscious before fleeing the scene,” Sitima said.
She said Kachipewa was rushed to Dowa District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival, with postmortem results indicating that the cause of death was severe head trauma.
On the day Kachipewa succumbed to his injuries, The Daily Times had published a story to the effect that Malawi Network of Older Persons Organisations (Manepo) statistics indicated that the number of elderly people killed over witchcraft accusation had reached 11.
Manepo Executive Director Andrew Kavala condemned the episodes.
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The 12 deaths follow 22 deaths of elderly persons that were recorded during the whole year of 2025.
In the latest case, Kavala has condemned the Dowa incident.
“We strongly condemn this brutal killing of an elderly man in Dowa. No allegation, especially one as harmful and unfounded as witchcraft, can ever justify violence, let alone the taking away of a life,” Kavala said.
This is happening when Malawi has the Older Persons Act of 2024.
The Act criminalises abuse, neglect and harmful practices against elderly persons.
It also provides for protection orders, penalties for perpetrators and mandates duty bearers to safeguard the rights of the elderly.
