CSO’s action week kicks off: ‘Witchdoctors should be regulated’
Owen Khamula – Nyasa Times
Civil Society’s Action Week kicked off on Monday and will run until May 27 with strong warning to people with albinism killers and a petition to parliament to legislate laws that would protect people with albinism wherever they can be, any time.
Edward Chileka Banda, chairman of Citizen Alliance, organizers of the Action Week said the citizens petitioned parliament as part of the activities to demand that the National Assembly should legislate laws that should regulate the work of witch doctors.
“These witchdoctors are the source of the problem. They are telling people that human parts of people with albinism can bring quick riches and we wanted their work to be regulated, they should be monitored closely,” said Chileka Banda.
In Mozambique, a set of a person with albinism costs nearly K50 million and the set, among others, include tongue, arms, legs, private parts and teeth.
At least 17 people with albinism have been killed since the wave of abductions and killings of people with albinism started two years ago.
Chileka Banda said similar activities are also occurring in districts.
“We want swift action against abductors ad killers of people with albinism, this is why we are petitioning the OPC” said Chileka Banda.
The Action Week was preceded by a high level conference which sought to find lasting solutions to the killings of people with albinism which was held last week in Lilongwe and also drew delegates from the National Assembly as well as government apart from the people with albinism and the civil society groups.
