Ntaba faces calls to resign over albino killings link: Malawi presidential aide, other DPP politicians implicated in murder case

Family members of murdered person with albinism MacDonald Masambuka and commentators have called for President Peter Mutharika’s adviser Dr Hetherwick Ntaba to resign as chairperson of presidential committee tasked with protecting Malawians living with albinism after being implicated by one of the murder suspects, Alfred Yohane.

Ntaba: Implicated together with other DPP high profile politicians

Masambuka, 22, a person with albinism, is believed to have been murdered in Machinga  and body was found buried on April 1 2018, after he was reported missing in March the same year.

During the trial at Zomba High Court, Yohane implicated Ntaba some high-profile politicians of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Trial judge Zione Ntaba on Friday recused herself from the murder case of Masambuka, after her uncle Hetherwick Ntaba is mentioned to have been the one of the people in government who sent the suspect to abduct and kill the person with albinism.

Reacting to the development, the victim’s families outside the court told Nyasa Times that they expect Ntaba to resign and other high profile politicians should also step down and not got to court in ministerial jackets.

Adding his voice on the matter, celebrated writer and commentator Stanley Onjezani Kenani said Ntaba should indeed resign.

“Now that he is being mentioned in courts as one of the people behind the killings he must resign and clear his name and maybe take up the post later,” Kenani commented on social media.

He added: “ This, of course, is a mere allegation, and it is to be presumed that he is innocent until proven guilty, but the mere mention means he can no longer discharge his duties in a way that makes everyone feel comfortable until he has cleared his name.”

Kenani further bemoaned that the justice system in Malawi is “rigged against the poor”, stating that Buleya Lule, a key suspect in the abduction of a boy with albinism, was killed “like a dog” in police custody “at the mere mention of his [Ntaba] name.

“Professor So-and-so and Dr. So-and-so, at the mention of their names in a court of law, a gag order was hastily issued, and the accused was told to shut up,” Kenani wrote in apparent reference with Judge Ntaba’s order to media not to shield the names of high profile ruling party politicians implicated by the suspects.

Malawi, one of the world’s poorest and most aid-dependent countries, has experienced a surge in violent attacks on people with albinism over the past four years.

In many cases, those with albinism are targeted for their body parts to be used in witchcraft.

Albinism, a genetic disorder, causes a partial or total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes.

As a result, many albinos often experience eye problems and have a heightened risk of skin cancer.

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Apawo
Apawo
4 years ago

I would have loved if the clause of the law was rephrased otherwise for all murder cases : “GUILTY UNTIL PROOVED INNOCENT”. That Masambuka was killed is a fact and proved because his remains were found and buried.
All suspects to this murder case are remanded in prison to proove their innocence to the courts. Why don’t you remand the master minders?.

Fredrick Sakala
Fredrick Sakala
4 years ago

Do not judge,i think this right time to know that,Ntaba he is not wrong but he is clever

Yaphama
Yaphama
4 years ago

Ntaba n those 9 police Officers mst rotten in jail they are murders they’ve got blood In their hands azikatchulana komweko

Kuchitekete
Kuchitekete
4 years ago

Bwana Dr Ntaba, you are walking on a very thin ice yet you seem to be determined to cling to your “ministerial” jacket in the hope that you may sail through. You wont! Your 40th day has come! Just step aside honourably. Shame on you Dr Ntaba! Shame on DPP! Shame on Zione too for her failed attempt to obstruct justice! Justice will prevail.

Zachisoni
Zachisoni
4 years ago

Nthaba is a known murder. He killed prominent politicians in MCP whom he regarded as competitors. He was doing this in name of being a Medical Doctor. I was working at KCH that time before I retired. He was working a Mr. Chipamgula who used to work in theatre. An innocent politician from Mchinji was one of his victims. DPP keeping made a mistake to welcome Ntaba and Dausi. They were behind the bad name of the old MCP. The new MCP is now clean without thse two murders. The murders are in DPP now. I have a evidence and… Read more »

Le Senor de Los Cielos
Le Senor de Los Cielos
4 years ago
Reply to  Zachisoni

So you think he should instead be nicknamed “Dr Death”? Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!

Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba ndi nkhungu

That’s why these people killed Buleya. Shaaaaaaa koma dpp yawopsatu. Honestly what do you do with albino people. These people simply don’t have a gene that makes melanin. It’s recessive in some people. As a scientist Ntaba should know this but this man is now a bootlicker of superstitious Lomwes. The blood sucking issue was mostly in the Lomwe belt. Umbuli mukupha nawo anthu osalakwa.

Toots
Toots
4 years ago

Only a dull person will believe that Ntaba is being framed here he is guilty as hell, we don’t even need the courts to prove that! our common sense has already done the job. This government always rush to the media with press releases once it’s image is at stake but why are they silent up to now? Blind DPP followers and sympathisers can you please put your brains into good use for once on this one!

Njolo mpilu
Njolo mpilu
4 years ago

Ma MUST RESIGN akwana angati thopano ndipo ndi anthu angati auzidwa mau amenewa and nobody m bomali wacita resign mu zaka zose izi

Zude
Zude
4 years ago

Blood money,tamuonani nkhopeyo.Mfiti za anthu.

Panyelo
4 years ago

List of real lies in Malawi.Teaching children witchcrafts, Blood suckers,Human killers for body parts,Albino killers sent by Rich people.Can you really be sent to steal money and give to your boss with advance or visible agreements.In Malawi all who try to do better in live have these stories.

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