Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
In a horrific Hollywood style horror movie enactment, three members of the same family died when they threw themselves in a raging fire - one after another. Five children from one family were allegedly misled by a pastor beyond their physical and emotional control.
The scenario also had great depictions of a Nigerian Nollywood witchcraft spoof.
Beamed on public television Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), four of the boys, dived into the inferno they started using their home furniture. One escaped with serious burns and a fifth, a 6-year-old, was rescued by his parents.
The family boys have been attending fellowship prayers at a non-disclosed religious sect in the high density populous area of Ndirande Township in the commercial city of Blantyre.
Tired community residents were fed up with the boys' claims they were moved by the Holy Spirit to get into the fire and come out alive. They beat up the parents who tried to stop the obsessed young men from burning themselves, and surrounded the fire, watching the boys dash into its flames.
Spectators watched in disbelief as the boys first broke down their home in the evening after returning from prayers.
The grieving parents did not know exactly where the boys attended fellowship prayers every night.
Police are still investigating the matter and religious leaders at the congregation their parents knew they attended prayers dismissed claims that the boys attended prayers at the church.
Blantyre Police spokesperson said: “Preliminary investigations reveal the children acted in this manner after being told by their fellowship pastor their father practiced witchcraft. They believed he was behind their inability to get employment and find marriage partners.”
Of late, Malawi has been flooded with strange religious cults and prophets, some who claim God asked them to marry more women, eat heavily and once in the morning for the day, refuse to access any medication particularly in the face of an ongoing measles outbreak, and numerous other macabre acts.
President Bingu wa Mutharika two months ago threatened to arrest such leaders, as he said; they were denying - particularly children - their right to life and right to access medical attention towards a fulfilling life.
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