By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, February 24, Mana: Group Village Head (GVH) Katutula of Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa has urged youths in the district to refrain from abusing and violating human rights of older persons accused of witchcraft.

He made the appeal Saturday during a football bonanza organized by Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) aimed at raising awareness on evils of human rights violations on older people and those with albinism.

He noted with concern that most people's human rights, especially the elderly and people with albinism, are being violated.

“We have intensified awareness campaigns on the evils of violence against the elderly. We are encouraging our children and youths to respect rights of old people. If a person is old, the youths think that he or she is a witch. No, that is not the case,” GVH Katutula said.

He further said that he has been encouraging chiefs under his jurisdiction to raise awareness on the evils of suspecting elderly people of being witches.

CHRR Chitipa District Coordinator, Smith Movete, said they decided to organise the bonanza as a way of raising awareness on dangers of violation of human rights.

Movete said his organisation has had a number of awareness campaigns and cases of human rights violation are reducing unlike in the past.

“Youths are most targeted in this awareness campaign because they are the ones who commit a lot of felonies in our communities. Our expectations are that they have taken the message and they will be transformed and even be change agents,” Movete said.

In the football bonanza, Katutula Football Club beat Namuyemba Football Club 5-4 in post-match penalties after a goalless draw in 90 minutes.