DPP governor, two others arrested over missing albino in Phalombe

July 17, 2018 Nyasa Times 35 Comments

Malawi Police have arrested a ruling Democrtaic Progressive Party (DPP) constituency governor for Phalombe North West Patrick Chinawa and two others as part of on-going investigations to find out what happened to 12-year-old albino teenager Joseph Kachingwe who went missing on after attending independence day celebrations on 6 July.

Victims of a growing trade in albino body parts.

National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera told Nyasa Times that the three suspects join the teenager’s mother, stepfather, aunt and two uncles who were arrested last week.

Said Kadadzera: “I don’t know [the suspects] political positions but what I know is that we have arrested eight individuals who we strongly believe know something as far as the missing boy is concerned.”

The suspects are the mother Mary Nankhuku (43), the stepfather Humprey Elia (29), Beaton Tabwali (63), EniphatChinawa (35), Patrick Chinawa (38), Julius Mkhwayi (31), Steve Chauma (32) and Joseph Mankhokwe (42).

A source close to the investigations told Nyasa Times that the stepfather confessed to abducting and killing the teenager but the boy whom he implicated deny any involvement.

But Kadadzera said investigations are on-going as neither the boy nor his remains have been found.

“Police are working tooth and nail to bring all the culprits to light and end this barbaric act of terrorising people with albinism in Malawi,” he said.

Meanwhile, the case was on Monday committed to the High Court where the suspects took their pleas on charges of conspiracy and kidnapping/abducting with intent to murder.

Malawi has experienced a spike in violent attacks on people with albinism over the past four years.

In many cases those with albinism are targeted for their body parts to be used in witchcraft.

The genetic hereditary disorder causes a partial or total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes — as a result albinos often experience eye problems and have a heightened risk of skin cancer.

In a June 28 report, rights group Amnesty International said that since November 2014 there have been 148 crimes reported against people with albinism that have claimed at least 21 lives.

Just 30 percent of those attacks have been properly investigated, according to official statistics, with only one murder and one attempted murder case successfully prosecuted.

Of the 600 cases of violence against albinos in 28 African countries, Malawi accounted for nearly a third.

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35 replies on “DPP governor, two others arrested over missing albino in Phalombe”

  3. Amalawi umfiti! alibe manyazi ndikomwe, zipukupuku za anthu. that’s why our country is still going down while others are developing. Some politicians are concentrating on witchcraft and corruption instead of doing the job which they were mandated to do. Shame!

  5. I personally do not believe that these ALBINOS are killed and those who do get rich.Twenty years ago there was a belief too,
    that people could make money FROM SANDAWANA and large number of people went around hunting SANDAWANAs .I never saw any of the poor SANDAWANA hunters got rich and his BANK ACCOUNT got FULL CHARGED.Try to find out from these suspects in police cells, if they have their accounts fully charged.Our problem is total belief without actual objections.IF people do it, is out of ignorance,They just feel as it is said that ALBINOS can make riches.

  6. Mwinansotu K145million ija ikugwilizananso ndi nkhani imeneyi coz miyezi inatsegulidwila acc # ija ndiimeneyo since alibino mmodzi mmodzi angosowa mbali yakummwera tu basi akuluakulu simukuidabwa apa nkhani yi tichenjere tu apa kuzigao za pakati ndikumpoto izi kulibe akazi ajanso amadulidwa mabele ajanso kunali kumwera mano ankachosedwa aja achina nachipanti anamapopa kumwera mayi kalanga ineeeeeeee

  7. This constituency governor is just a small fish, like the policegate, there are CheJumos behind these albino killlings. These BigFish are powerful & untouchables hence continued attacks. Sadly, unsuspecting Malawians continue romancing with such devils

  9. Most of these thugs join DPP to hide their thuggery please castrate them!! We are tired of these thugs. Some of them use vehicles with no number plates putting whatever nonsense on the number plates and go scot free.

    1. Atayika dpp or APM pa number plate or tanyamuka DPP flag kutsogolo. a police anthuwa basi kumangowonera

  10. I meneyotu ndiye DPP yomwe ndimaidziwa ine matsiku ano apolisi agwireni muwa mange ndipo musaopsezedwe ayi after all go and catch BIG ONE wankulu waoyo mukumudziwa inuyo sindimutchula koma muvaileni fast kikikikiki mwaluza basi

  11. Everyone is killing albinos Church, Police, Clinicians, Parents, Relatives, Politicians… where are these people going to live. This is sad. The people who are doing this deserve a firing squad.

  12. Most of these Albino cases the culprits are DPP gurus no wonder these killings will not stop because the above are protecting these thugs.

  13. There is need of independent investigations. The way things are being done by our police, somebody will be shielded> The case of a priest, Thomas Muhosha of Zomba Diocese is just part of this very scheme.

  16. Most atrocities are perptrated by political amd business gurus who are often untouchable. very sad

  17. nKHANI IYI ONE OF THE BIG FISH IS THEIR -kOMA MWANA KUMUTENGA ZONSE ABALE SAMBIIZITU -MKUMATI MULEMELA PANSI PANO NDITHU

  18. Dausi what is your comment on this issue? Mukanatani akanakhala wa MCP? Ndithudi tikanamva za mbiri thru a press conference!!

    Lero zachitikazi ndi umboni wa zija anthu akhala akunena kuti DPP is a party with vampires, “ANAMAPOPA” Shame on you and your stinking party!!

  19. Komatu a Malawi ndi anthu omvetsa chisoni kwambiri ma business opanga a anthu wa si zoona. . Ena ndi awa amagulitsa ana Ali moyo akuyenda osati so ma Albino ayi. koma umphawi uli mthooooo kumadanawa Kuti kodi u mfiti onsewu amapindula chiani maka maka. Mtima wa usatana but God is watching!!!!!!!!

  21. This is the biggest irony of them all. DPP has been at pains to communicate to the people of Malawi that it is doing everything possible to deal ruthlessly with albino killings. No wonder the promises are coming to zero. Albino killings are being planned and executed right within the DPP. I wouldn’t be surprised though if the governor is released for lack of evidence. law enforcement agencies have also been captured and are right in the pockets of DPP. malawians, we are not safe and this isn’t a joke. mukawaselera anthuwa atipha m’modzi m’modzi

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