Kaliati urges Malawians to love, respect Albinos

Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati has pleaded with Malawians to afford people with albinism equal opportunities in life and to desist from the culture of stigmatizing them.

This comes amid recent reports of victimization and killing of albinos for rituals.

Kaliati said Albinos are like any other individual hence a need for them to be respected.

“Albinos are like any other Malawian and their rights must be accepted at all times. As government, we want all the culprits [abusing albinos] be brought to book,” said Kaliati.

She called on society to treat people with albinism with the love and respect they deserve.

She however also urged the police to work hard in making sure that case of abuse of Albinos are treated with urgency.

This comes following a plea from Federation of Disability Association in Malawi (FEDOMA) and Association of persons with albinism in Malawi (APAM) that there must be legal protection for Albino’s in Malawi.

Chairperson for APAM in November last year admitted Albino’s are living in fear and blamed the Police for negligence.

An example of a similar case was that of Violet Kanyama aged 25 from Gwana Village in Mulanje who was killed last year and police failed to apprehend the suspects.