Officer-in-Charge for Rumphi police, Pherson Nthenda, has advised traditional leaders to hold back witchcraft hunters in the community as laws of Malawi does not acknowledge existence of witchcraft.

Nthenda said this during a meeting on Saturday with the traditional authorities in the district.

According to Nthenda, the act of witchcraft hunting is fueling violence against innocent people especially the elderly.

From January to October this year the district has recorded nine cases of witchcraft originating arson where people accused of practicing witchcraft have had their houses torched.

Senior chief, Mwankhunikira, said the message is timely considering that such cases are rampant in the district.