Featured image credit: BBC
A HIV-positive Malawian man, who told the BBC he is regularly paid to have sex with children, has been arrested.
According to reports, Eric Aniva was arrested on the orders of the Malawian president.
President Peter Mutharika said the police should investigate and charge him of defilement after he had confessed to having sex with girls as young as 12.
The Malawian, who is in his 40s, is what's known as a 'hyena' - a man paid to have sex with young girls as a form of ritual cleansing.
Eric Aniva admitted to having sex with children. Featured image credit: BBC
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Sexual cleansing involving 'hyenas' is common practice in southern Malawi. Women are told to participate in the act at various important points in their life, including if their husband has died or if they have an abortion.
But in in statement, which the BBC has included as a follow-up, presidential spokesman Mgeme Kalilani said: "While we must promote positive cultural values and positive socialisation of our children, the president says harmful cultural and traditional practices cannot be accepted in this country."
Mr Aniva would "further be investigated for exposing the young girls to contracting HIV and further be charged accordingly," he said.
The president has also ordered all men and parents involved to be investigated, Mr Kalilani said.
"All people involved in this malpractice should be held accountable for subjecting their children and women to this despicable evil," the statement continued.
"These horrific practices, although done by a few, also tarnish the image of the whole nation of Malawi internationally and bring shame to us all."
Malawian president Peter Mutharika. Featured image credit: PA Images
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Last year Malawi raised the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18, which activists had hoped would put an end to sexual initiations of young girls.
In an interview last week with the BBC, Eric, from Nsanje in southern Malawi, explained that he became a 'hyena' in 1995 and has slept with over 100 girls and women - with five children having being born as a result of his sexual activity.
He said: "Most of those I have slept with are girls, school-going girls.
"Some girls are just 12 or 13 years old, but I prefer them older. All these girls find pleasure in having me as their hyena. They are proud and tell other people that this man is a real man, he knows how to please a woman."
Eric had told the BBC that he planned to stop taking part in sexual cleansing practices.
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Words by James Dawson