
Rumours of blood-sucking vampires in southern Malawi have unexpected consequences. Six people killed. 35 arrested. UN staff withdrawn from affected districts. Tourism hit.
Rumours of alleged vampires who clad either in black or white attires while equipped themselves with blood-sucking syringes have sent a shockwave of uncontrolled hysteria in Malawi.
According to local in several rural districts in southern Malawi, the vampires boast of potent magical powers enabling them to draw blood from their drugged victims, who late become weak and sick.
But is the news about the vampires true? The answer is yes or no depending on the one who answers it.
“The issue is real. When they (bloodsuckers) get into a house, they first spread something like teargas and flash a dazzling light. Then everyone in the house becomes too week to shout for help,” one traditional leader from Mulanje district told a local publication.
A villager Eranive Mahora, who claimed to be a victim of blood suckers issue, told privately-owned Weekend Nation that she learnt with great shock about people who do not believe the issue is real.
“I become so angry when I hear people say we are mad for believing that some people have had their blood sucked. I fainted for three hours after being sucked blood. And we are now suspecting that the government is behind this since it is not willing to address the issue,” she said.
Meanwhile police in Mulanje said they have received 30 cases of people claiming to be victims of blood suckers and managed to arrest over 35 suspects as perpetrators of mob justice.