Mutharika institutes albino inquiry: Orders K3bn roll out of Malawi action plan
President Peter Mutharika has disclosed that he will institute a commission of inquiry to probe attacks and ruthless killings of people with albinism.
Mutharika made the disclosure when made at the Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Thursday when he held an audience with persons with albinism under the banner of the Poor and Concerned people with Albinism (PACPWA) – a breakway group from Association of Persons with Albinism (Apam).
“The President will institute a commission of enquiry to get to the bottom of the killings and abductions of people with albinism,” presidential press secretary and spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani said in a communiqué issued after the meeting.
The commission is expected to investigate the truth about assumed markets for the targeted body parts of people with albinism, driving factors influencing people to engage in the malpractice, people’s awareness levels on the issue and delays by the justice system to conclude cases involving the victims.
Disability organisations in the country have proposed that the Judiciary, Fedoma, traditional healers, chiefs, police, Association of Persons with Albinism (Apam), Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, among others, should form the commission.
Commentators believe the commission will unveil answers to questions Malawians have on why government is failing to decisively act on the attacks and killings as well as on delays by the courts to conclude cases involving killings of people with albinism.
President Mutharika has also committed K3.1 billion towards the implementation of the Nation Action Plan (NAP) for Persons with Albinism for a period of four years, one of the key demands of the PWAs and the Malawi leader has since ordered an immediate release of the money towards the cause. The call was
Association of Persons with Albinism (APAM) Board of Trustees Vice Chairperson, Abigail Dzimadzi said what the PWAs need is assurance that the NAP will work and not just be on paper.
“We need real commitment for the NAP and not just mere talk. There is need to popularize the NAP through implementation. Apart from implementation of the NAP a commission of enquiry that would expose the barbaric act would be a good starting point in this cause,” she said.
Dzimadzi who has a child with albinism said there is need for action and not mere talk as such there is need to address the situation regardless of association.
Pacpwa Chairperson, Francis Masambuka concurred with Dzimadzi on the NAP implementation saying what the country needs is action.
He said there is need to protect persons with albinism especially those in the rural areas because they are more vulnerable than their town counterparts.
“It is disheartening today that we are talking of such atrocities. There is need to empower the police with mobility so that protection is enhanced,” he said.
Mutharika also pledged that his government will pay a K5 million reward for any report leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone hatching plans to abduct and kill people with Albinism.
The President also disclosed that government has procured 3, 000 personal security alarms from Britain to be distributed to persons with albinism.
The meeting was attended by among others, Cabinet Ministers, Traditional Leaders, the Police and other key stakeholders.
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The police spokesperson who said Lule was sick when in fact he was being butchered knows a lot . He should tell the nation why he lied? The same lies were said about Chasowa. Police must clean their hands.
These issues have now gone political too much…
What we need in Malawi is a President who is pro-active and not one who is re-active. APM sits on his hands and does nothing until he fears for his position. Does he have the authority to manage such huge sums of tax payers money on his own? Where does Parliament come into it? Or is he a dictator who can by-pass parliament?
A Chiswe is NAP was already approved by parliament but the govt was sitting on it. Follow what Chakwera said at Xroads press conference
A Peter!!!! Mumadikila a Chakwera akuwuzeni zochita ? useless president kugona toomuch. God bless u Mr CHAKWERA
When will UTM govt be?…
21st May 2019 official but technically the country’s Veep is UTMs’ president I think thus still in govt…kkkkkkk
Don’t delay ur self Infact we already have prime suspect who wer arrested. They have the information just bring it out and all this nonsense will stop
ThePresident has been mentioned in the Albino syndicate. He should clear his name first
I don’t think Peter Mutharika is a bad person. I think he is just incompetent. We saw the incompetence when he headed Ministries of Education, Foreign Affairs, etc. This albino issue will be the last straw to break the back of his miserable presidency.
He’s got Personal Assistants, Aides, Ministers PS Directors Intelligence staff IG Army Commanders and Goodal Gondwe u name it and he still can solve this problem? There’s is more to it? What we need to be asking is who is benefitting from the whole o’deal? Only then we will understand! If they can arrest opposition that fast u he can find albino killers in secs.
Didn’t Chakwera accuse APM and his DPP of not releasing the K3b meant for Albinos? What has influenced APM to make available this money? Ladies and Gentleman, DPP zombies keep accusing Chakwera of criticising but not offering solutions. Well, he did offer one of the solutions to the albino plight and APM has swallowed it hook line and sinker. Musamangobwebwetuka bwana. Kuli anthu iganiza kunjaku.
Why this took so long without being implemented?? You were waiting for Chakwera to remind about this? Indeed I believe now that you are sleeping on the Job Mr president. Be decisive when taking actions Mr President otherwise these inner circle Comrades are indeed misleading you Sir. I am very ashamed of myself here where I am of being Malawian , the name associated with bad cause of killing people with Albinism. Let me remind you once again that these Albino killing started during once u just came into power thus in 2014 that’s why people link your administration to… Read more »
Hes just dumb or benefitting from the whole o’deal lets stop blaming inner circle now hes aware of his surrounding if he picked Chimulirenji he can do better.