Malawi: People with albinism 'living in fear'
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| Amnesty International says there have been at least 115 attacks on persons with albinism since 2015 [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] |
Rights group bemoans slow pace of justice after attacks,
including murders, leaving those with albinism feel vulnerable.
Malawi's refusal to push forward with prosecuting suspects
accused of attacking and killing people with albinism has left a persecuted
minority on the edge, according to the Association of Persons with Albinism in
Malawi (APAM).
Boniface Massah, national coordinator of APAM, told Al
Jazeera on Wednesday that the government's failure to conclude cases
demonstrates that "security has not improved", leaving the estimated
10,000-strong community vulnerable and anxious.
"We face a high risk of attack and we have seen
government commitment in words, but not in action," Massah said.
Albinism is a genetically inherited condition. It often
results in the lack of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes.
Since late 2014, human rights organisations noted a rise in
attacks on persons with albinism in Malawi.
The attacks stem from a belief that body parts
belonging to people with albinism contain magical powers.
Criminals, allegedly members of gangs across southern and
central Africa, have abducted scores of people with albinism, hoping to sell
their body parts on the black market.
Amnesty International, the UK-based rights group, says there
have been at least 115 attacks, including 20 murders, since 2015.
At least 35 cases have been prosecuted, while 43 others are
under investigation. No murder cases have been concluded.
Massah said that the lack of punitive action had
left people with albinism feel "very vulnerable".
"Students have not returned to school, adults are
avoiding going to work, and restricting their movement and this is impacting
their livelihoods," Massah said.
Responding to claims that action remained slow, Nicholas
Dausi, Malawi's minister of information, told Al Jazeera that his
government was aware of the shortcomings but said that there had been
a reduction in crimes against those with albinism.
"As a government, we are saying that we are committed
and asking people to come forward and assist us," Dausi said.
"If there is anybody who feels that the justice is not
served, they should come forward," he added.
Deprose Muchena, director of Amnesty International Southern
Africa, confirmed that the government had shown commitment to addressing
the scourge, but added that the community "was still living in fear".
"This year, there were five attacks, including two
murders ... the fact that one of the murders took place in Lilongwe itself is
very daring because usually these attacks happen in isolated, rural
areas," Muchena said.
"The government needs to speed up cases.The lack of
action energises attacks," he said
Still shaken
Clement Gweza, a teacher in Dedza in central Malawi, told Al
Jazeera that he is still shaken by the murder of his pupil David
Fletcher back in April 2016.
Fletcher had been abducted from the village and found days
later, murdered and dismembered in neighbouring Mozambique.
"I tell Latida [another pupil with albinism in his
school] not to travel alone, and I also take special care at night, because I
know these people are looking for us," Gweza said, ading that the
community suffers "widespread societal discrimination, including verbal
abuse and exclusion from accessing basic public services".
Experts say that people with albinism also endured
discrimination at schools and hospitals.
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