People with albinism begs Chilima: ‘Please do something today, Please!’
President of the Association of People with Albinism (Apam) Overstone Kondowe visited Vice President Saulos Chilima’s Aare 12 Residence where he delivered a tearful speech about the desperation of people with albinism who are being killed like animals.
In a moving speech, Kondowe, who kept referring to Chilima as ‘Mr. President’ said people with albinism ‘cannot bear another attack, one more attack, one more assault will be too much to bear’.
“Mr. President, last night I went to bed, not sure whether I would wake up in my own bed or not. I went to bed not sure I would wake up with my limbs intact or not.”
“I went to bed, not sure I would witness one more beautiful sunrise or not… Not because I am terminally ill, and the Doctor has given me a few hours to live, but because I and my brothers and sisters with Albinism are being sought after, to be killed, our organs harvested and sold perhaps for a bag of gold and silver,” Kondowe told an attentive Chilima.
“Mr. President, at the deepest of despair, when I consider death to be an end to this suffering, there too I am reminded that death will not let me rest… death will not bring peace to this suffering… because even in death, my tomb will be desecrated, my grave opened up and my bones harvested. Even in death, there is no rest, there is no peace for persons with Albinism in Malawi.”
“Mr. President, as a President of the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi, (APAM), today I am not here to deliver a speech to you. I am here to make a plea to you. Please do something today. Please do something today. We cannot bear another attack…One more attack, one more assault will be too much,” said an emotional Kondowe.
He said government developed a National Action Plan for persons with Albinism (2018-2023) and this was a ray of hope to persons with Albinism but wondered on the list of government priorities.
“To date no dime, no cent has been committed by the government to implement this plan. No structure exists to implement this plan. To date, that Action plan is still just a bunch of paper that makes no difference in the lives of persons with Albinism.”
“As persons with Albinism, we feel let down by our government. As citizens of this country, we feel cheated and shortchanged. We have been given a cheque, yet the bank says there is no money in this account,” said Kondowe.
He said apart from people with albinism living in perpetual fear of being abducted and of being killed, they also have limited opportunities to education, justice, health, skills development and employment.
In cases where one is successful to have access to such, they are often met with institutions and services that are not tailor-made to the special needs of persons with Albinism. Institutions often times are just unresponsive to our needs.
“Mr. President, there are only 13,000-15,000 persons with Albinism in Malawi. Surely, that is not too big a population to protect. That is not too big a population to educate. That is not too big a population to provide health services for. With a leadership heart that is willing, with proper planning and targeting, we believe our needs can be met by our own government. As persons with Albinism, we do NOT believe that our challenges are insurmountable,” said Kondowe.
“We need action now. We want to see this country as our own like anybody else. We are tired of empty promises that have lingered in our minds for the past 4 years. We are pleased to tell you that during campaign, you should be raising awareness on the persons with albinism and outright condemn the attack and bring those involved to book,” added Kondowe.
“You may wish to know that on 3rd March, we are holding a vigil at the State House to demand with aim of pile pressure on government in-order our needs are met with urgency. As such, we need your support in terms of finances, materials and your presence towards the vigil,” said Kondowe.
“Our lives are at the mercy of murderers. We are not even aware of what will become of us a second after this meeting and what our fellow brothers and sisters are experiencing right now. We need your commitment to this!” begged Kondowe.
Since November 2014, the number of reported crimes against people with albinism in Malawi has risen to 152, including 25 murders and more than 10 people missing, according to Apam.
Malawi Government is facing accusations that it has failed people with albinism whose fundamental right to life is at stake.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Even in USA they kill murderers. A couple of year I was in San Diego, and they hanged one first degree murderer. Why not here then? My colleagues of APAM, make no mistake by accommodating these so called human rights defenders, they are hypocrites, they are the ones who protect your assassins in the name of human rights. Don’t also align yourself with the opposition political party leaders as this will distance yourself with the government. Be neutral. In fact opposition parties have no clues also. Chilima is in Government and has been for last four years, he never came… Read more »
My blame goes to the UN, Amnesty Int. and the so called Human rights defenders. The like of Mtambo and Trapence. They are indirectly responsible for this mess by protecting the murderers in the name of human rights. They say murders must not be murdered because they have human rights, ignoring the rights of victims. Surpringly they are also number ones in blaming government. Nonsense. As far as I know man does not fear words alone, man fear words accompanied by action. This nonsense can’t happen on Russia, China, Middle Eastern countries, even some in Africa and all over the… Read more »
nonse amene mukupanga ma comment apapa ndi ma cadet ovula azimayi komaso amene mukupa ma albino , antu ngati amupeza vice president chalakwika ndichani mesa ali mboma momo akuziwa kayendesedwe kazintu komaso pakulakwika akupaziwa inu ndi umbuli wanu mungoona za ma resource it goes beyond that uchisilu , page yonse kumangocomenta muntu mmozi cadet kumangosita maina your stupid fulls agalu muchoka mboma chaka chake ndichino , you have nothing to offer stupid gods
DPP inalowa m’boma 2015. Munthu oyamba kuphedwa wa alubino anaphedwa 2015 yomweyo. Sindikunena kuti dpp ikupha ma alubino koma nzodabwisa. DPP ndikuona ngati ikukhwimira ndale ndi ma alubino
Big mistake to politicize this issue of killing our countrymen/women, pathetic as it is disgusting. There is no Party that benefits from this, and “Apam” know this very well. Sure, consult all political leaders, AND the other stake holders; but don’t let off the hook the law enforcers, Malawi Police, and the Justice system. The Police, especially, have failed us in this area. And, to pump up Kandebvu Chilima, by calling him Mr President, is only preparing him to fall from higher ground in May. The guy is always overrating himself and his organization skills. Just check out the latest… Read more »
The DPP Leed government are involved in this act and expect nothing from Malawi Police
They went to SKC not APM not Chakwera. That says something.
Both Muntharika and Chilima are power hungry and have miserably failed us….
The best place where this Group would have visited is the Office of Inspector General of Police..(IG)
By visiting these power hungry politicians, the group is DRAMATISING as well as POLITISIZING the problem… a thing which is not good.
i have been trying to contact Apam on facebook and WhatsApp to help out my message has been read and ignored so am wondering how we can help when were are ignored
Its not all about you you spoiled brat. Get off your lazy ass and go find them. People are being killed and you want talk about yourself and your petty feelings. Fuck you!
Why can’t the government make a camp for our fellow innocent brother and sisters and provide them with full security there .This is indeed too much with empty promises.please Mr president do something
Why should you turn your own citizens into refugees? What we need are punishments on the perpetrators.