As reported by Thomas Kachere in the Malawi Times News, July 12, 2024:
Fifty-two-year-old Ebel Manyamul has been paralysed for almost his entire life.As reported by Pemphero Malimba of the Malawi Times News, August 14, 2024:
His facts of life are that when he was aged three, he suffered from leprosy.
From then on, he has been physically challenged.
Just that, as a member of a Christian fellowship, Manyamula held on to the faith that, one day, he would walk again.
Ans the 'good news' he had been waiting for came on Tuesday, April 16, this year when Manyamula, who comes from Mangirani Village in Chriadzulu District, heard that a servant of God from Nsanje, Prophetess Jersey Window, would be in his village for a night-long prayer session.
Scriptures were recited and songs of praise sang.
Before long, some of the congregants started testifying about what God had done to their lives, changing their lives from bad to good.
When it came to Manyamula's turn, the prophetess prayed for him, surrounded by some congregants who were trampling on his feet, as ordered by the Prophetess.
This is according to the version from the court that handled the case.
A medical report in our possession shows that, after the activities of April 16 this year, Ebel had 12 stitches for wounds on both legs.
According to Ebel's brother Joseph, Ebel became physically challenged when he was...3.
"We were saddened with the development," he said.
Times, which was the first media house to break the story online--nmely on Times 360 Malawi--managed to engage the prophetess on the issue before she was arrested and taken to court.
In that interview, Window indicated that she was ready "to die for Jesus Christ."
Before long, Chiradzulu Police Station officers arrested her.
The prophetess was remanded to Blantyre Prison, also known as Chichiri, as confirmed by Edward Kabango, spokesperson for South East Region Police.
They also arrested two more suspects, namely 32-year-old Veronica Wyson and 30-year-old Marita Wyson from Mangirani Village, Traditional Authority Nchema, in Chiradzulu District for causing grievous bodily harm to Ebel.
Then on Thursday, May 30, 2024, Chiradzulu First Grade Magistrate Smart Maruwasa convicted the three and ordered them to pay K150,000.00 each.
He ordered that the money be used for compensating the victim.
Meanwhile, Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance Executive Director Victor Mhango has condemned men and women of God who go beyond limits.
"Justice should be seen to be done, even on people of God who go beyond the limits," Mhango said.
Amid troubling incidents involving harm or death in the name of religious healings and exorcisms, the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) has renewed calls for the government to regulate practices of religious leaders in the country.
Last month, a four-year-old child, who was purportedly a prophetess in Kasungu, allegedly instructed her 40-year-old mother, Ireen Banda, to flog four children who had sickle cell anaemia and Down syndrome as a supposed cure.
Banda, who remains in police custody, is alleged to have severely beaten the children all over their bodies, leading to their deaths.
In April this year, police in Chiradzulu arrested a 74-year-old female preacher, Jessie Window, for allegedly directing members of her ministry to straighten the legs of a man with a physical disability in an attempt to heal him through "prayers."
The man sustained injuries and was hospitalised for several days.
These incidents, among others, have ignited debate about regulating religious practices while respecting the freedom of worship.
In an interview Tuesday, Chreaa Executive Director Victor Mhango said such regulation would help alleviate the challenges some Malawians face due to the misconduct of certain religious leaders.
"Many Malawians are being deceived and some have been assaulted, harassed and even sexually abused by so-called men of God.
"We believe the government is aware of these issues; so, we are calling on it to ensure that these religious institutions are regulated," Mhango said.
He added that many people in the country accept whatever comes from religious leaders as the true word of God.
"It is high time Malawians recognised that many of these individuals are false prophets, merely advancing their own agendas," Mhango charged.
Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) General Secretary Reverend Francis Mkandawire supports these calls.
Mkandawire emphasised the need for increased dialogue between the government and religious bodies.
"Regulation is unavoidable at this point. The government must implement it.
"However, we recommend that if regulations are introduced, there must be extensive consultations with religious bodies to address the issues," Mkandawire said.
He cautioned that failing to consult may infringe on the rights of legitimate religious groups.
"If the government introduces regulations without consultations, it may impose restrictions on religious bodies that are operating properly," he added.
Public Affairs Committee Publicity Secretary Bishop Gilford Matonga prefers self-regulation within the religious sector.
Matonga said if all churches or institutions were affiliated with religious mother bodies, such as the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, the Malawi Council of Churches and EAM, these organisations could discipline members who act contrary to religious teaching.
"At present, people can choose whether or not to join these bodies," Matonga said.
He also highlighted the need for a dedicated government ministry for religious affairs.
"Currently, we have only a presidential adviser on religious affairs, which is inadequate. A ministry that could formulate policies would be more effective if the policies were developed with input from the community," Matonga said.
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu said the government would consider calls for the regulation of religious practices, provided it does not impact legitimate spiritual practices.
"Any criminal activity by a pastor or an ordinary person is punishable by law. If a sector, perceived as sacred, requires regulation to prevent it from evading legal scrutiny, we need to address it.
"However, if the regulation does not affect genuine spiritual practice, we should engage in that conversation," Kunkuyu said.
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