The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has said the Malawi is moving through desperate situations due to failure by government and its agencies to swiftly respond to socio-economic issues affecting the citizenry.
CCJP has said this in its statement signed by Director of Social Development at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) Carsterns Mulume.
According to the statement, Malawi continues to draw global attention for all the wrong reasons simply because a lot of people are economically desperate to make ends meet in their daily lives.
“When people are desperate to make ends meet, they sometimes resort to desperate measures, like rumor mongering, crimes, superstition, theft and all sorts of negative activities in a bid to find solutions to their problems,” the statement reads in part.
The statement has cited the failure by the Government to timely address the issues of commodity prices a situation it says has left a lot of farmers in desperate situation.
“The exorbitant costs farmers incurred when purchasing farm inputs and the current commodity market prices do not assist the farmers in any way to be more interested to engage more in agro-business ventures. This has negative consequences,” the statement adds.
CCJP has also expressed concern with the violence and brutal killings of persons suspected to be blood suckers in Mulanje.
“It is a wonder as from where all these inhuman stories and actions are arising from, that have resulted into not trusting each other as Malawians,” the statements reads.
“The failure of the Government to act swiftly with sober mind on the issue has led people to desperate situations by various groups of people in communities.’’
The statement adds: “we call upon the Government and peace keeping agents to treat rumors with serious measures that befit such cases to avoid loss of lives and property.”
CCJP has also called upon all peaceful Malawians to desist from taking the law into their own hands and being agents of bad rumor mongering.
Reports of blood-sucking vampires have been rife in the southern districts of Mulanje, Phalombe and Thyolo.
