Protect old from ‘witchcraft’ killings - HRC
THERE is need for specific legal and policy protection for older persons who are increasingly being killed on suspicion of practicing witchcraft, says Human Rights Commission Information, Education and Training officer Mweelwa Muleya.
Mr Muleya said that Protection mechanisms should move beyond social protection to include physical protection to minimise the escalating violation of older people’s right to life.
He said that the revelation by Muchinga Province Police Commissioner, Dr. Charles Mbita that the province was recording an average of 10 deaths of older persons being killed on suspicion of practicing sorcery was deeply disheartening.
“The Human Rights is deeply concerned because the killing of older persons on suspicion of practicing witchcraft is becoming a pattern and widespread in a number of provinces in this country. This is regrettable,” Mr Muleya said.
He said that older persons had a right to life and any form of discrimination violated Articles 12 and 23 of the Zambian Constitution.
Mr Muleya said the practice of killing older persons was a serious crime of murder which must be seriously addressed by various stakeholders.
“The Commission calls for an end to harmful stereotyping and hostile prejudices against older persons which are resulting in age-related discrimination and aggravated violence such as killing them,” he said.
Mr Muleya said that it was important for everyone to understand and appreciate the fact that getting old was a natural process.
He said that the 2015 World Health Organisation findings indicate that life expectancy in Zambia was at about 62 years old and if the trend of killing older persons was not reversed, the majority of individuals may soon be endangered species in some societies where the belief in witchcraft allegedly by older persons was prevalent.
“The Commission is also calling upon traditional leaders to take advantage of traditional ceremonies to educate their subjects on the need to preserve, support and protect older persons. Older Persons are custodians of rich but unwritten traditional and cultural values and practices that should be passed on from one generation to another for social cohesion of communities,” Mr Muleya said.
He further urged traditional leaders to ban the practice of witch-hunting in their chiefdoms as it could be contributing to the killing of older people who are mostly accused of being responsible for any unexplained illness or death.