Malawi Parliament approves bill moved by MCP MP on stiffer penalties for albino killers

Members of Parliament (MPs) have passed  a motion  moved by Dowa East MP Richard Chimwendo Banda (Malawi Congress Party-MCP)  to amend the Anatomy Act to attract stiffer penalties for perpetrators of abduction and killing of people with albinism.

Richard Chimwendo Banda:Moved the motion
Richard Chimwendo Banda:Moved the motion

Most MPs spokes in supported the bill, saying people found guilty of killing persons with albinism should  be slapped with life imprisonment or face the death penalty.

Chimwendo Banda said the bill will help punish people involved in rituals and deter unauthorised possession of human tissues.

He noted that in view of the continued killing of people with albinism and cognisance of the fact that the current penal provisions aimed at deterring would-be offenders are not having the desired effect, the amended of the Anatomy Act would help deter all would-be offenders from committing such offences.

Salima North West MP, Jessie Kabwila (MCP) said the bills will demonstrate the kick-start of solving the problem of ritual murders.

“We don’t have the luxury of waiting,” said Kabwila.

“This is a bill which should have been passed yesterday,” she said.

Mulanje South MP, Bon Kalindo who has been advocation for death penalty and earlier on marched ‘half-naked’ to push for the same, supported the bill.

“Time has come , we need to do something,” he said.

Kalindo said the bill should be supported even by government despite originating from opposition lawmaker in a private members motion.

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu said the Anatomy Act is part of the larger Bill whose drafting has been concluded.

“We are developing a proper and appropriate legislation that will cover all issues,” said Tembenu.

The minister added that the Disability Act, Human Trafficking, Child Justice Act and the Anatomy Act would also be amended in the Penal Code.

The faculty of law at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College  recently faulted the Anatomy Act for the seemingly lighter sentences meted to perpetrators of crimes against people with albinism.

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