Ombudsman pens State on Malawi albino killing crisis: ‘Each of their lives matters’
The Ombudsman Martha Chizuma as a public protector has written government to act decisively on the ever-increasing situation surrounding the killing of persons with albinism in the country.
Chizuma said her office has been receiving a stack of complaints from various quarters in the country asking it to ask government assume its responsibility to engage an extra gear in protecting people with albinism as premised on the heightening number of killings.
In a strong worded four-paged letter dated February 20 2019, addressed to Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Erica Maganga, Chizuma said the situation of people with albinism in Malawi presents a serious test to government.
So far, three persons with albinism have been killed since the inception of this year and two suspects said to be behind their deaths have died after police questioning.
Chizuma writes: “I have been approached by so non-governmental organisations such as FEDOMA, APAM and 253 citizens of this country about issues to do with the dishearting albino killing situation, and these are matters of my mandate to work on.”
According to her, she has held several interface meetings with all concerned government agencies including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare.
“With these, I have been able to suggest ways on how they can come in considering the fact that persons with albinism too have a right to be protected by the State,” she writes
Chizuma also said she has asked government determinedly roll the National Plan of Action on protecting all people including people with albinism.
She writes: “As a country, we cannot afford to lose another life or witness the brutalisation of another person with albinism. Each of their lives matter. Government needs to do whatever it can with resources at hand to protect our brothers and sisters.
“This is the right thing to do constitutionally, legally and morally. And so my expectation is that you as policy holder of the NAP [National Action Plan] will provide the required leadership over this matter and also send me the required documentation as requested within the shortest period of time.”
But dust refuses to settle for government as opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has since asked Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi to apologize and resign over mean remarks he made over the issue of albino killings.
Dausi said the issue had not yet reached unmanageable levels alleging persons with albinism are killed with their own relations.
The opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Maurice Munthali described Dausi’s sentiments as unfortunate, saying as a government Cabinet he should have appreciated the seriousness of the present situation of the albino killing issue.
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Umbuli wachuluka pa Malawi. Udf diluted education and there are more thugs now. Subjects like life skills replacing biology is doing more harm. Basic genetics has to start from primary schools.
If you inherit recessive genes for albinism from both parents you become an albino. One in 10,000 births is an albino. There are several types and the common ones are oculocutaneous 1 and 2. Oculocutaneous 2s are not stereotyped as albinos. They look brownish but this diminishes with age. It’s better to teach children about this. Albinism is more common in birds.
My Malawi is nose diving,but GOD is watching and will do something very soon.Zomwe zikuonetsa kut ddp ikudziwapo kanthu ndi zakuti:Nkhani ya anamapopa a Ngolongoliwa adangonena kuti sipapita mwezi isadathe ,idadathadi koma pa nkhani iyi ali ziiii.Send a thief to catch a thief, dpp has dug its own grave very soon it will be burried and forgotten.
Ombudsman or Ombudswoman or even Ombudslady
Kwaaaaathaaaa. DPP is done and dusted!!! From receiving 145 million to buying belts st 100,000 to picking Chimulilenji to Albino killings to Dausi declaring the number is not enough. Who will vote for these people now?
well done ombubsman
And I quote, “We can not afford to loose another life” Every human Life matters. Thank you madam Chizuma. i know somewhere someone is not happy about this but what is wrong is wrong