Officials of an organization of atheists, the Association for Secular Humanism in Malawi, say they are disappointed with the high number of people who believe witchcraft exists.

According to the findings of Afrobarometer, 74% of people in the country believe that witchcraft exists.

Wonderful Mkhutche, president of the Association, said such beliefs are detrimental to the development of the country.

However, Mkhutche said the findings are important for efforts to change people’s mindsets towards belief in witchcraft.

Last year, a special law commission on the examination of witchcraft proposed that witchcraft be recognized in Malawi because many people believe in the existence of the law in the country.

The chairman of the commission, Justice Robert Chinangwa (retired) said the commission had recommended that the law recognize the existence of witchcraft but criminalize its practice.

The commission also defined “witchcraft” as a “supernatural art or unnatural act, the use of magick practiced in the spiritual realm or in secret, in word or deed for the purpose of causing harm to a person or damage to property or death or misfortune or incite fear or violence.

Malawi has no law prohibiting witchcraft, nor a legal definition of witchcraft, but the persecution of those exposed as witches continues.

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