Malawi police rescue suspected albino attackers from mob justice: Karonga residents besiege court

Police in the Malawi northern border district, Karonga, Tuesday rescued the two suspects of albino abductions from an angry mob. after the First Magistrate Chakaka Nyirenda adjourned the case.

Karonga residents at the court -Photo by Tiwonge Kuwenda
Karonga residents at the court -Photo by Tiwonge Kuwenda

Fishani Mtambo aged 33 from Mukwavi Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwenewenya in Chitipa and Wamisi Kawumba 32 of Cheyama Village in the Traditional Authority Kyungu in Karonga were arrested on Thursday last week suspected of abduction a 11 year old albino boy who was latter rescued by the surrounding community.

Prosecutor Peter Pilingu pleaded with the Magistrate not to continue with the hearing of the case, claiming that the Director of Public Prosecution Mary Kachali wants to give guidance on the matter before proceeding.

“Your honour before we start the hearing, please, I want to give out an appeal that we have just received a phone call from the DPP commanding us not to start the case today because they want to guide us how we should handle the case amicably,” said Pilingu.

Magistrate Nyirenda adjourned the case to 17th September allowing the police to prepare themselves for the case.

The development provoked crowds of people who besieged the court premised and they started pelting stones as they were suspecting that the police are planning to free the suspects.

Others threatened to torch the suspects but police has to whisk them away.

Police also fired tear gas but failed to arrest any person in connection to the stone throwing and no injuries were reported.

Albinos in Malawi are killed and dismembered due to a widespread belief that charms made from their body parts bring good fortune and prosperity.

It is claimed albino body parts can fetch thousands of dollars.

Albinism is a genetic condition characterised by a deficiency of melanin pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes which protects from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

People suffering from the condition are discriminated against and persecuted in many African countries.

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Alfred Newmann
Alfred Newmann
8 years ago

The administration of justice has gone awry here. Justice delayed is justice denied.If the courts in Karonga were deemed incompetent or incapable of dealing with this matter (and this is hard to believe),then a competent and capable team should have been put in place quickly wherever, to avoid further violence as a result of doing “justice by telephone”!

Alex Kolako Wonde
Alex Kolako Wonde
8 years ago

How Does Kachali Knows About Albino at Ipyana? Note Zis; Kunkhala mulonga Sikuti Nthawi Dzonse Ukhala Ndimadzi Ayi. if u don’t have any coment just phe -e -e

Ichocho
Ichocho
8 years ago

Atumbuka kukonda ziwawa.Let justice take its course.

Patambala paoneka Mphepo Ikaomba

Every government in power has its own way to give offering to devil. Just fancy during introduction of multiparty there were cases of breast cutting. In the other years there were cases of male organ mutilation.In the just past term they introduced male circumission in hospitals to get such organs for offerings and now it is this Albino killings, who wants to fool who.

Mtunda
Mtunda
8 years ago

Phuma aMalawi! Osadikira kaye cigamulo bwanji? Eni anapita kusukulu akudziwa comwe akunena. Mukazitengeera ndale ndiye zukanikani.

R..MLEU
R..MLEU
8 years ago

OK ///OK////OK…OK….APHEDWE BASI

James Banda
James Banda
8 years ago

true..that some High profile people are in these brutal barbaric acts …. l being apolice man l know what is on the ground….

Zanga Phe Basi
Zanga Phe Basi
8 years ago

Very stupid DPP govt and your dpp kachale! It is now obvious that se big fish are behind these acts.

Just like cashgate we will gonna kno who is behind this! Mwina ndi speaker, pitala or one of u greedy stupid souls.

Mboga syangu
Mboga syangu
8 years ago

Boma LA DPP ndi DPP wanu kachale tiuzeni zoona kuti zukhala bwanji? Are you not involved?

Loboal
Loboal
8 years ago

Why protect these killers? I bet some big wig was behaind the deal so he ordered police to protect them. Just kill them and torch the police van if they stand in the way

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