Guest Lethargic Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Politician Caught Up in Vampire Rumors Fri Jan 10, 7:52 AM ET BLANTYRE, Malawi (Reuters) - Hundreds of angry Malawians hounded a senior political figure from his house and stoned him late Wednesday, accusing him of harboring vampires. Blantire Urban Governor Eric Chiwaya, a member of the ruling United Democratic Front, was the latest victim of a bizarre rumor that the country's government is colluding with vampires to collect human blood for international aid agencies. Bearing severe cuts to his face and body, he told Reuters from his hospital bed that a crowd had hailed him with stones and other missiles, chanting "vampire" and threatening to kill him. Chiwaya said he knew some of his assailants, adding that political opponents were trying to discredit him and the government. The vampire rumors have sparked several vigilante attacks on suspected bloodsuckers in recent weeks, despite official attempts to stop the rumor. One man was stoned to death, and three priests were attacked by angry villagers in the south. Political tensions are already high in Malawi. President Bakili Muluzi's attempts to stay in office for another five-year term have already sparked protests, while many face starvation in the face of a regional food crisis. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spaceman Spiff Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Well...don't see *that* every day... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Gathering Moss Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Wow. That's just insane. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Texas Small Arms 09 Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Weird story to say the least Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CoreyLazarus416 Report post Posted January 14, 2003 ...it's stories like this that make me proud of the average dumb American... ...because at least Joe Schmoe knows vampires, in the traditional sense, don't exist... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cynicalprofit Report post Posted January 14, 2003 ...it's stories like this that make me proud of the average dumb American... ...because at least Joe Schmoe knows vampires, in the traditional sense, don't exist... Come convince a bunch of people i've met, I know they aren't but they dont believe me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted January 14, 2003 I'm assuming Malawi is some Africa country, but I'm too lazy to do a google search and know for sure. Can anyone help a brother out?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Texas Small Arms 09 Report post Posted January 14, 2003 I know y'all will think I'm crazy, but I believe vampires are out there. I believe anything is possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Youth N Asia Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Serves him right fore harboring those stinkin vampires! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest snuffbox Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Im going to go ahead and assume theres a large ammount of free-growing hallucinogenic plantlife in Malawi... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest the saiyan prince Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Well...don't see *that* every day... sure ya do just not here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Malawi is indeed a poor African country. This news item would make a good short story. As for vampires..what the fuck? The undead don't exist. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted January 14, 2003 Finally, a politician progressed past skeletons in the closet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted January 14, 2003 "Malawi is indeed a poor African country." A redundancy if there ever was one... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest IDrinkRatsMilk Report post Posted January 14, 2003 You'd be surprised how many Americans believe in real, undead vampires. I've convinced lots of people that I was a vampire. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Texas Small Arms 09 Report post Posted January 14, 2003 I believe and I don't feel like it's a big deal. Beliefs are beliefs; and I have reasons why I believe the way I do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest IDrinkRatsMilk Report post Posted January 14, 2003 There's a difference between believing vampires exist and stoning political figures because of it. Personally, I've never seen a vampire, but I've seen some things in my time that might lead me to believe the concept of vampires might not be so far fetched. But if some stranger, or hell, even a 15 year old girl on the internet, claims to be a vampire, am I going to believe them? No. And yet a surprising number of Americans would. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Texas Small Arms 09 Report post Posted January 15, 2003 If you see with your own eyes then it's different, but saying over the internet makes me skeptical Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Texas Small Arms 09 Report post Posted January 15, 2003 If you see with your own eyes then it's different, but saying over the internet makes me skeptical Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted January 15, 2003 Of course, because it's possible to see someone turn into a bat and fly away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites