Albino body exhumed: Malawi Police confirm arrest of herbalists over rituals

Residents of Msemwe village Traditional Authority (T/A) Simphasi in Mchinji woke up in awe on Monday morning when they discovered the body of a 20-year-old man with albinism exhumed from the grave.

Albino exhumed in Mchinji
Albino exhumed in Mchinji

Patrick Katutu, a teacher at Mbachundu Primary School which is near the graveyard told Mana that villagers were surprised to see a coffin of Sopriano Felix who died on 20th April, 2016 lying on top of the deceased’s grave with its cover broken.

“Yesterday, when we passed by the cemetery, we saw the coffin with Felix’s  remains, which were buried on 21st April,  on top of the grave with the cover of the coffin broken into pieces and we alerted the Police,” he said.

Mchinji Police spokesperson Moses Kajawa Nyirenda confirmed the body of the deceased with albinism who died at Kamuzu Central Hospital after battling tuberculosis was exhumed from the grave.

Nyirenda said the police and a medical official from Mchinji District Hospital discovered that arms and legs of the deceased were all removed. The remains have since been reburied.

The police said they have launched a man-hunt to apprehend the unknown criminals.

Meanwhile residents of Msemwe village say two more people with albinism in the area are living in fear due to the incident.

“We want protection for the two people with albinism in the area, because we know the criminals will now target them,” Katutu said.

Herbalists arrested

Malawi Police have meanwhile confirmed that their counterparts in Mozambique have arrested two herbalists in connection with the death of a Dedza based albino boy who was abducted and killed for his bones.

Dedza police assistant spokesperson Cassim Manda confirmed the arrest of herbalists Tafatatha Chinyamula and Madalitso Tafatatha on allegations that he is connected to the brutal killing of 17 year-old Fletcher Machinjiri.

Manda said the police in Malawi are making arrangements to bring the two herbalists in Malawi to answer charges of murder.

He could however not say exactly when they are expected to be brought to Malawi.

The arrest follows the sentencing this week of two men to 25 years in prison for abducting Machinjiri.

The two men and the herbalists are also expected to answer murder charges in the High Court of Malawi.

Moral decay

Father George Kaliati of St. Pius of the Catholic Church on Saturday condemned the abductions and killings of the persons with albinism describing it as a symbol of moral decay and lack of love for one another.

President Peter Mutharika has since ordered the security agents to be vigilant and arrest all those involved in the vice and bring them to book.

He said his government would send a delegation to Tanzania to learn how the country managed to deal with the problem.

Human bones for people with albinism are sold for quick rich charms and a suspect said he was promised K15 billion for the bones whilst in Tanzania,  Al Jazeera reports the bones can fetch as high as US$175000.

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Lucius
Lucius
7 years ago

by the way where is the death penalty for these criminals ?And you say NO to mob justice

king fish
king fish
7 years ago

lack of love + ignorance + jealousy thats da diseases of we Malawian..let us love one another…

Masozi Mwenifumbo
Masozi Mwenifumbo
7 years ago

The Problem: Matt 6: 22-24, “The light of the body is the eye; therefore, if the eye be single (ie wholesome), then your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye be evil, then you shall be full of darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold on to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Now the Solution from the Creator: John 9:39-41, “And Jesus said, “For judgement I came into this world, that those who… Read more »

piere
7 years ago

money is the source of all this barbaric behaviour.

juma jumbe (che jumbe)
juma jumbe (che jumbe)
7 years ago

please lets join hands and fight against this its our duty to protect our fellow human being. only God knows and will judge ……

charles
charles
7 years ago

It’s very shocking and inhuman but God is watching us from a distance and follows judgment day!!!!!!!

killion lapuyere
killion lapuyere
7 years ago

Koma apa ndiye zaonjeza amalawi

generation of vipers
generation of vipers
7 years ago

For how long shall we stand while we watch our fellow human beings butchered like that? End times indeed

Andy of Kaonekera
Andy of Kaonekera
7 years ago

I am of the opinion that you must first trace both the buyers and agents of this barbaric trade.Life cannot be traded with money

Nyani wa ku Mwananyani
Nyani wa ku Mwananyani
7 years ago

Note to Father George Kaliati: Perhaps you could approach your leaders about the idea developing a “pastoral” letter on this issue. Pastoral letters should encompass issues beyond politics; and we know how effective the one letter was during that brutal dictatorship! And the Church could have the letter read in every church on a Sunday. But, please DO NOT involve any of those religious leaders, like Father Mulhomolhe, who just had a meeting with government leaders a few weeks ago, as they (the rls) are mainly in politics, not our welfare. Is this asking too much of one of the… Read more »

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