A local organization that fights for secularists, Humanists Malawi has called on government and other stakeholders to reject a proposal that witch craft should be recognized in Malawi.
The call by Wonderful Mkhutche, Executive director of Humanists Malawi comes as a Special Law Commission on the review of Witchcraft has proposed that witchcraft should be recognized in Malawi as a lot of people believe the existence of Act in the country.
Earlier last week, Chairperson of the commission, Justice Robert Chinangwa (Retired) said the commission recommends that the law should recognise that witchcraft exists but make its practice criminal.
The commission also defined ‘witchcraft’ as a ‘supernatural art or unnatural act, use of magic practiced within the spiritual realm or in secret, in words or deeds for purpose of causing harm to a person or damage to property or death or misfortune or to incite fear or violence.
However, Mkutche, faulted the commission for using majority as a basis that witchcraft exists.
He said he expected the commission to give evidence that witchcraft exists because it remains a belief.
Malawi has no law outlawing witchcraft, and no legal definition of witchcraft, yet there is continuing persecution of those denounced as witches.
