By Witness Chipwere
Statistics released by Malawi Network of Older Persons Organisations (Manepo) indicate that about 22 elderly people have been killed in the first eight months of 2023.
The organisation indicates that in 2021, 13 people were killed and 58 were harassed for various reasons, largely on accusations of practising witchcraft, with 15 elderly people getting killed and 88 being harassed in 2022.
However, Manepo has observed that the figure continues to grow, with 106 elderly men and women getting assaulted in the country in the first eight months of 2023.
Manepo Technical Lead for Programmes Goodwell Thunga said the situation highlights the need for education and awareness to combat superstitions and promote respect for the rights and dignity of older persons in the country.
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Thunga said time is nigh to pass the Elderly Persons Bill, which is being drafted to be sent to Cabinet for approval.
“We are receiving more reports of abuse, which means there is a gap— in terms of the law that governs issues of the elderly in the country.
“As at now, we are mobilising community members and sensitising them to the need to respect rights of elderly persons,” Thunga said.
Meanwhile, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa has expressed concern over rising cases of mob justice in the country.
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Kaiyatsa agreed with Thunga on the need to pass the Elderly Persons Bill as one way of protecting elderly people in Malawi.
“But we also need to review the Witchcraft Act because the one we are using is outdated,” Kaiyatsa said.
The Witchcraft Act of 1911, which Malawi uses, does not recognise witchcraft in Malawi.
Recently, non-governmental organisation Bring It Up indicated in a statement that attacks on elderly people are higher in Malawi than neighbouring countries of Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania, attributing the development to lapses in the law.
To safeguard the rights of elderly persons in Malawi, Malawi developed the 2016 National Policy on Elderly Persons which obliges the State to protect senior citizens.
