Malawi rights groups urge state to appeal losing albino cases

Human rights groups in the country have asked the state to immediately appeal all cases it lost to abductors and killers of people with albinism to send a strong message to them that they have started a prolonged battle which Malawians will never give up.

This was resolved at the end of a meeting by Citizen Alliance, a consortium of human rights groups aimed at finding ways of ending the brutal killings of people with albinism for their body parts which herbalists believe can be used for quick rich charms.

One of the human rights activists Edward Chileka Banda said the state has lost two cases so far and the suspects were freed.

“We want the state to appeal against the two cases, we want the state to secure convictions for all the cases so that a message is sent to these killers,” Banda said.

He said the government should give extra money to the police to expedite the albino killings investigations and to the courts to expedite hearing of the cases.

“The police should be able to go after the herbalists who are encouraging these killings. People are killing our brothers and sisters with albinism because there is a black market, because herbalists are encouraging this,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Super League of Malawi has said this weekend matches will start with a minute silence to remember people with albinism who have been killed so far.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said the organisation will use football to send a strong message to abductors and killers of people with albinism that they have no place in Malawi.

“What is happening is barbaric. We will use football to condemn these barbaric and inhumane acts. We are using football to condemn these acts because football is the greatest sport in Malawi and the world which enhances peace among people regardless of the colour of their skin,” he said.

Everson Kondowe of Association of People with Albinism welcomed Sulom’s gesture.

“We are very happy that more friends are coming to support us and fight against the vice,” he said.

He said Sulom could also consider giving part of the gate collections to the families of those killed saying the families are traumatised and some of those killed were bread winners.

At least 17 people with albinism have been killed to date.