Older widows or those living in poverty are disproportionately targeted after community misfortunes

That’s a very serious and painful issue in Malawi; many older people, especially older women in rural areas, face accusations of witchcraft and end up being beaten, banished, or even killed.

This is what is happening as follows:

Accusations of witchcraft: When a family faces misfortune — illness, crop failure, a child’s death, or poverty — older people are sometimes blamed. Traditional beliefs still link misfortune to witchcraft in some communities.

The violence: Accused elders are often beaten, stripped, paraded, chased from villages, or have their homes burned. Many then become homeless.

Who is most at risk: Women aged 60+, widows, those living alone, childless elders, or those with mental health conditions. Poverty makes it worse because families may see an elder as a “burden.”

This is recognized as elder abuse and is illegal under Malawi law, even if people claim cultural reasons.

See Article: https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/malawi-elderly-people-killed-witchcraft

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