Thought I would paste in this news story. It is about a Ministry of Labour officer having to investigate a worker being fired from the government for being a witch. Quite a bit different than our Ontario Ministry of Labour reactive calls. When you see the word Traditional Authority (T/A) it means a tribal chief who still wield some power here in Malawi and are semi-officially part of the government apparatus which is a British parliamentary style system like Canada.
Sanjika driver fired, asked to relocate over witchcraft allegations
By OLIVIA KUMWENDA(5/21/2008)
A Sigerege family in Blantyre’s Chilomoni Township is in a tight corner after the husband, who until recently was working as a truck driver at Sanjika Palace, was "verbally" fired following allegations that his wife was teaching State Residence children some witchcraft, a development that has been questioned by labour and human rights authorities.The family, of Duncan and Christina Chilembwe, also faces another predicament—that they move out of Sigerege following Traditional Authority (T/A) Kuntaja’s decision acting on advice from a witch-doctor’s report that allegedly implicated the household.Kuntaja has given the Chilembwes up to October-end to relocate, but the family maintains its innocence.According to a Blantyre-based labour officer, there are no regulations in the Laws of Malawi that govern the issue of witchcraft at work-places.Human rights activists have also described the development as "a common challenge" that the nation needs to address, arguing that witchcraft allegations are difficult to prove.The Chilembwes’ saga started last November when the family was stationed at Sanjika Palace.Chilembwe last week told The Nation the family was ordered out of the palace premises after some staff members alleged his wife was teaching children witchcraft.The family moved to Sigerege, just behind Sanjika Hill, where they own a house. But according to Chilembwe, some Sanjika officials later reported the matter to village headwoman Anderson of Sigerege."This time it was alleged that both me and my wife were teaching children witchcraft. Village headwoman Anderson then reported the matter to group village headman Pensulo."[Pensulo] referred the matter to T/A Kuntaja. The T/A told us, including the complainants, to go to a witch-doctor to find out if there was indeed witchcraft among us," said Chilembwe from his home in Sigerege.He said the families of both the accused and the accusers went to a witch-doctor in Mdeka, rural Blantyre, where they spent a night."The witch-doctor gave everyone medicine to drink saying those who do not practise witchcraft will vomit after taking it. After taking the herbs, everyone vomited meaning there was no one who was practising witchcraft."We left the place without being officially told the outcome but we knew that we were innocent as we had vomited just like everybody else. However, we were surprised that when the T/A summoned us early this month, we were told that the witch-doctor has found us guilty of witchcraft," said Chilembwe.He said the T/A then ordered that family to pay chickens to the complainants and relocate.However, Anderson, who said she cannot entertain witchcraft practices in her village, contradicted Chilembwe on the witch-doctor’s outcome."I have heard about Chilembwe’s version that the witch-doctor said those who do not practise witchcraft will vomit but according to an independent observer sent by the T/A, the doctor did not say that," said Anderson.She said, according to the observer, the witch-doctor only said the herbs had several side effects including vomiting. She said she does not know how the witch-doctor came to a conclusion that the Chilembwes are guilty of witchcraft.But Kuntaja defended his decision to evict the family from Sigerege, saying it was made for security reasons."I am not forcing the family to move but normally after such incidents, the suspects are advised to move to another area for fear of being persecuted by the community," said Kuntaja.But at the time of the interviews, the Chilembwes claimed they were not facing any hostility in the community.State House press officer Chikumbutso Mtumodzi refused to comment on the matter, saying under the Laws of Malawi, witchcraft, sorcery and anything related to magic does not exist. But Chilembwe insisted he was verbally fired after the accusations.
Blantyre District labour officer George Chilonga said the country does not have laws on witchcraft practices at the workplace."But for security reasons and when there is public interest, a person suspected to be practising witchcraft can be transferred to another place or have his or her contract terminated. But when he or she is fired, one has to get all the benefits," said Chilonga.
Chilembwe said he is still waiting to hear from State House on his benefits.Meanwhile, Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) executive director Dorothy Nyasulu said the Chilembwes scenario represents many other Malawians who are being harassed following witchcraft accusations."This is a big issue because sometimes people take the law into their own hands to deal with witchcraft suspects. As a country, we need to come up with a way forward as people’s rights are being violated," said Nyasulu.She said village leaders are not supposed to tell the suspects to relocate but should protect them as their subjects.Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) executive director Undule Mwakasungula concurred with Nyasulu that it is very difficult to pin down people over witchcraft allegations."This is a challenge. As a country we need to be very careful with the way we handle such cases. Innocent people are being victimised and having their rights violated," said Mwakasungula, who is also Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) chairperson.The Chilembwes have since said they will appeal against Kuntaja’s decision in a court of law.
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