GOVT WARNED AGAINST SHIELDING PERPETRATORS IN ALBINO KILLINGS INQUIRY

By Sam Banda

Govt warned against shielding perpetrators in albino killing inquiry

The Association of Persons with Albinism has threatened it will release names of perpetrators that are involved in various atrocities that people with albinism have been facing in Malawi.

The caution comes as the government is yet to release a report of the inquiry it instituted earlier last year as news that albinos were being killed, abducted and tortured dominated headlines.
President Peter Mutharika ordered the inquiry saying it would assist the crackdown of the acts let alone bring the perpetrators to book.

The commission was expected to submit a report to Mutharika on April 30th, 2019, over the killing of 24 persons with albinism and attacks on over 160 people since 2014.

But with the set deadline passed, APAM President Ian Simbota has made claims that the association is furnished with the truth on all culprits behind abduction and killings of persons with albinism.
According to Simbota, their parallel investigative report will be released soon after the government releases its commission of inquiry report.
Over the last five years, there have been cases of attacks, abduction, and killings of albinos in the country.
Stakeholders keep arguing that the increase in superstitions that albino body parts are used to make people successful and rich as assisted by witch doctors.
The belief has stated that most doctors demanding this come from Mozambique although the government there has declined that connection.