Mutharika institutes albino inquiry: Orders K3bn roll out of Malawi action plan

February 28, 2019 Chem'bwana Nkolokosa –Nyasa Times 33 Comments

President Peter Mutharika has disclosed that he will institute a commission of inquiry to probe attacks and ruthless killings of people with albinism.

President Mutharika wants national action plan rolled out
Poor and Concerned People with Albinism grouping meeting President Mutharika
Top police officers were at the meeting
A child with albinism attended the meeting

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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33 replies on “Mutharika institutes albino inquiry: Orders K3bn roll out of Malawi action plan”

  1. 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.

  3. 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?

    1. A Chiswe is NAP was already approved by parliament but the govt was sitting on it. Follow what Chakwera said at Xroads press conference

  4. A Peter!!!! Mumadikila a Chakwera akuwuzeni zochita ? useless president kugona toomuch. God bless u Mr CHAKWERA

    1. 21st May 2019 official but technically the country’s Veep is UTMs’ president I think thus still in govt…kkkkkkk

  6. 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

  8. 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.

    1. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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 be connected to this barbaric behaviour.

    So end this as soon as possible if your name must be respected.

    1. 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.

  13. Why has it taken him this long? What will the commission of inquiry find? Another way of wasting taxpayers money. Buleya could have told us something if he was not murdered by your police.

    1. Muvotera atiwo? Omwe atulo omaembekezera wina wagwedeze kuti ntchito igwirike? People, we should have seen how our Head of State performed when he was both Minister of Education & Minister of Justice…completely clueless. He never acts timeously (proactively); but waits until he’s pushed into action (reactively)! Cry my Beloved Malawi? Ibwere 21 May 2019 tione zina, abale!

  15. Too slow to respond,this president of ours is,just like the university of Malawi standoff he was slow has to be dragged into action,this is inborn and not good for a leader.

  16. Sorry gentleman and ladies ….am one of those who voted this man into power but he is just useless……..
    The Chakwera Hi5 AGENDA is the way to go….

    2. It’s not about politics here…..that’s why you are confusing these people…voting Peter,chakwera,atutupe kaya chilima ndi zina zimenezo…..here we are saying Malawi government should end this act

    4. and 3biilion action plan without Parliamnet approval, where do u get such huge sums of Money for that action plan? this is nonsense peter, ma rubbish ako azatha liti pumbwa iwe?

      1. This is not about politics Patrick nor opposition either, it’s to find solutions for this evil act period! but maybe u don’t understand English? Coz what u saying is totally different with the topic above. I therefore want to remind u that u better shut ur ass up! If u have nothing to offer bro. We are very serious together as one malawi, stand up for the sake of our fellow members with albinism in this country regardless political differences, u got it!?

        1. @Patrick Phiri – umbuli ngati wanuwo ndiumene ukupangitsa kuti dziko lino lidzingobwelera m’mbuyo pachitutuko kusiyana ndi anzathu amene tayandikana nawo. Blind loyalty is what I see from your comments…no capacity to analyze situations at all!

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