Gnani Local Customs

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Not all villages are run as a ‘safe haven’ unfortunately; a couple of them are no more than glorified prison camps. In some of these communities, the women are being sexually and financially abused by the chief, and essentially act as his slave. This practise sadly also extends to any children that may have been banished along with grandmothers as ‘helpers’. There is a stigma attached to being a relative of a witch and these children are being disadvantaged for the rest of their lives. Charity organisations are trying to help, but are being severely hindered by corruption. The surrounding communities are unwilling to accept their neighbours and the authority cannot be seen to provide better services for the witches than the rest of the village. Hence most of the money donated to assist the witches villages, tends to ‘go astray’.