Mob Violence prevalence in the country has caught the ire of President Mutharika

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika says he is shocked with the recent disturbing trends of mob justice where some people have torched and killed suspects of various crimes.

Most recently the media has reported incidences where people have been killed on suspicion of witchcraft or being found with bones of persons with albinism.

Four elderly persons in Neno and two other people in Kasina in Dedza, were torched to death on allegations that they sent lightening that killed some girls.

Similarly at Tengani in Nsanje, seven men were torched to death after they were found with human bones suspected to be of an albino person while in Karonga a motorist was beaten and his car torched on suspicion that he hit a cyclist.

Speaking in a special address to the nation Wednesday, President Mutharika said he condemned the acts saying those involved in the act are destroying evidence.

“These acts are condemned in the strongest terms. May you be reminded that this malpractice is against the rule of law, and will receive the utmost attention it deserves,” he said.

“It should be noted that crime suspects are sources of information regarding a particular offense in question, and killing them is as good as destroying vital evidence that could be used in court of law,” added the President.

The Malawi leader advised Malawians to report crime suspects to relevant security agencies.

“Crime suspects must be surrendered to police, so that police should investigate the alleged offense and prosecute them in a competent court of law. It is the court which is mandated to give punishment to suspects once found guilty,” he advised.

“I therefore urge all Malawians to refrain from mob justice. You cannot be a complainant, who is investigating your own case, and presiding over the case of your own, and implement your judgment.”

Prof Mutharika added that government, through its machinery will extend the long arm of the law, and deal with anyone found promoting and/or carrying out mob justice.