Mtambo calls for more sensitization against "witchcraft" abuses

Malawi: Timothy Mtambo, Malawi’s Minister for National Unity, has called on civil society organizations to provide civic education to the public about the elderly, claiming that they have been abused for too long, writes Judgement Katika.

Mtambo also advocated for harsher penalties for those who commit violence against the elderly or refer to them as “witches ” in local communities.

Mtambo has also condemned mob justice and mob violence, describing them as an evil that jeopardizes the very foundations of our democracy and the achievement of the MW2063.

Mtambo said this in Mzimba on Wednesday, where he was the guest of honour at a workshop organized by the NICE Trust, which draws funding from the EU and the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Education.

In order to meet the Mw2063, the Minister has called for the promotion of evidence-based practises and science education.

Mtambo has therefore called on CSOs to implement robust civic education programming to re-educate the citizenry, as well as a review of the Education curriculum to remove anything that promotes negative perceptions and beliefs about the elderly.

The Minister has also called for a review of Malawian laws that encourage mob justice or mob violence, particularly against the elderly.