Written by Richard Kayenda

Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese has categorically refuted rumours that there are people who are going round at night causing distress and sucking blood of others in some districts of the country.

According to an audio that has gone viral on the social media, Bishop Mtumbuka is heard sending messages of hope and prevention from Corona Virus Pandemic to the people; particularly those from Karonga and Chitipa, and not to be restless and burdened by such fake rumours saying, this is just a social stress whose evidence is baseless and abstract.

The charismatic bishop has said few days ago he made a phone call to his counterpart, Archbishop Banda, of Zambia, where such rumours started late last year, to crosscheck with him whether or not the rumours are concrete.

However, according to Bishop Mtumbuka, Archbishop Banda emphasized that such stories were but mere rumours which could not be proved right by a special investigation team of Zambia Police.

Bishop Mtumbuka has, further, called upon all well meaning Malawians; particularly the young people, who are currently spending sleepless nights hunting the so called bloodsuckers, to desist from the inhuman tendency of baying for the blood of innocent people whom they suspect to be strangers in their communities.

He has also asked opinion leaders in the communities to be vigilante and assure people; especially women and children to regard any bloodsucking news as mere rumours aimed at causing social havoc.

On the Pandemic of Covid 19, Bishop Mtumbuka has asked all Malawians to wash their hands regularly as one of the preventive measures from contracting the disease which is now confirmed in Malawi.

For the past two months, there have been rumours of bloodsuckers in the country and about five people, who were suspected to be blood suckers, have been mercilessly killed in the districts of Ntchisi, Rumphi, Mzimba and Karonga.