The Plight of Albinos in Tanzania: What should be done?

I received this email today. I have reproduced it here in its entirety.
Dear Sir/Madam
Tanzania Knowledge Network (TAKNET) is hosting a discussion forum that discuses the The Plight of Albinos in Tanzania.
I am therefore writing to invite you to visit the forum at www.taknet.or.tz to contribute your ideas and experience on the issue and share information and knowledge from others.
At the end of discussion the moderators will come up with policy briefs that we believe will help to influence policies and practices. The forum is conducted both in English and Kiswahili.
Please circulate this email to who ever you think will find the forum useful. Bellow please find introduction to the discussion.

With kind regards,

For Topic moderators


The Plight of Albinos in Tanzania: What should be done?

Recently, albinism in Tanzania has gained a relative attention following the brutal killings of the albinos. Albinism is defined as a genetically inherited disorder resulting from lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes of those affected. It is a rare genetic condition occurring in both genders regardless of ethnicity. Tanzania is believed to host not more than 170,000 albinos (WHO 2008).

Since 2007, Tanzanians have witnessed a wave of albino killings with parts of their bodies being brutally chopped off. According to the records about 43 albinos have been brutally murdered or their body parts hacked off. This evil is driven by the belief that albinos’ body parts possess magical powers capable of bringing riches. This have eroded Tanzania's image as a sanctuary for the oppressed in the international community, a reputation earned during the liberation struggle in Southern Africa.

Although a number of measures at both international and national levels have been taken to address the problem, more killings are being witnessed. Internationally the International Police (Interpol) have been involved to manhunt the suspected human traffickers operating in other countries. Furthermore the works of renowned campaigners like the Canadian albino businessman Peter Ash (with the Under the Same Sun programme) have been initiated to fight the killings of albinos.

At the national level, these measures can be divided into political, institutional and legal whereby politically his excellence President Kikwete, nominated Member of Parliament, honorable Al-Shymaa Kwegir, (who is also albino) in an effort to raise awareness about the vice and to help demystify the myths about albinos. Institutionally, a number of institutions have been established to address human rights. Furthermore the legal measures have been implemented like the banning of witchdoctors’ operations; directives to the regional security committees to protect albinos; introduction of a secret ballot system for identifying those suspected of dealing in human body parts and provision of mobile phones to albinos to quickly pass on information to investigators.


This discussion topic is therefore intended to collect people’s ideas on what should be done to stop these killings. We therefore welcome you to this discussion focusing on the following giudelines:
The motive behind these killings (economical, political, social and cultural)
In your opinion what are the appropriate measures that can be taken to address the problem (what else should be done?)
The role of Tanzanians in ending this distortion of human rights
The role of international institutions in addressing this problem.



Mr. A.K. Hassan
Senior Information Officer
Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF)
P.O.Box 31226
Dar es Salaam
Tel:+255 -22-2760260 ext 100
Mobile:+255-754 263390
Fax:+255-22-2760062
Email: akhassan@esrf.or.tz
General Email: esrf@esrf.or.tz
Website: http://www.esrftz.org

ESRF is a leading Centre of Excellence in Social and Economic Policy Research and Capacity Building on Policy Analysis and Dialogue in Tanzania and the Region. It is stakeholder-driven and its Board of Trustees consists of representatives from Government, Private Sector, NGOs, Civil Society, Research Institutions and Universities.

Websites managed by ESRF:
http:// www.tanzaniagateway.org -you will get all you need to know about Tanzania.
http://www.tzonline.or.tz -If you need recent publications by government, universities, private sector, development partners, etc on Tanzania,

Kindly give your feedback after visiting the sites. Thank you.

The "Under the Same Sun" tour in Tanzania

Courtesy of Rick Guidotti
Under the Same Sun office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Opening of the Under the Same Sun office

Read & See the Rest Here.

Kudos Peter Ash: Yours is a Noble Job

"We need to see convictions, we need to see more than just talk, and we need to see a concrete plan of action put in place to protect the albino community,"...Read the Rest Here.

Folks Let’s Start on a clean Slate, it’s Easter

Today is Easter Sunday; a day when Christians the world over commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Christians believe, I being one of them, that the resurrection of Jesus, after being dead for three days, signified (ies!) a new lease of life to each and every follower of Christ. This is because He defeated death with His rising.

Jesus Christ took our sins, iniquities and diseases upon Himself and suffered the punishment that was due us. He forgave us unconditionally.

Folks, my aim is not to preach here. I am trying to drive the point that Easter is a time of reflection and forgiveness.

It’s all about the welfare of Albinos

This blog’s aim is to champion an end to stigmatization and murders of albinos. Our call in this blog is that we should forgive one another where we have failed to stand up for albinos.

These are our brothers and sisters and taking care of them is OUR [you and I] responsibility.

Where God’s love abounds, one looks forward to putting a smile on their neighbour’s face. Harmony and peace is found in plenty in such a setting!

Anyway, what better way is there of exhibiting God’s love in our midst than serving other people with the cleanest of hearts!

Remember:

 Do unto others what you’d like to be done unto you

 For those to whom much has been given, much will be required

 The path of duty is the way to glory

Happy Easter.

........
Thanks Brian Carnell for putting a link to my site on your site.

Man assaulted in 'Albino vote'

Click image to view larger picture

Mwanza witchdoctor caught with Albino bone

Police here have arrested a 77-year-old traditional healer for allegedly being found with a bone believed to be of an albino...Read the Rest Here.

Peter Ash with his team is in Tanzania

Peter Ash, the man behind Under the Same Sun, an NGO out to fight the cause of albinos, is currently in Tanzania to help champion an end to albino killings in this country.

He is also in Tanzania to launch the Tanzania Under the Same Sun office.

Peter Ash shaking hands with the Vice President Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein after talks with him

For fear of their lives, twenty Albinos skip meeting

Following the albino killings that have rocked Tanzania in recent times, twenty albinos failed to attend a camp they had been invited to for fear that their lives would be in danger.

[The camp, Christian Sports Contact National Camp, which brought together young people from seven regions in Tanzania, took place in Tanga.]

The Chairman of the organization, Rev. Andrew Kajembe, said that albino killings cannot be tolerated in the society because they were denying albinos the right to enjoy their lives.

He said that the country cannot be allowed to be controlled by dark forces and urged all people, regardless of creed or colour, to condemn these killings.

“Twenty albinos were invited here in this camp, but where are they? They have chosen to stay at home for fear of being killed. I can assure you, if there were albinos here, you would have seen strange people plotting to pluck human parts from these poor fellows. This is an abominable thing,” he said.

He said that the church would not stay back and watch albinos being victimized and denied their right to live and enjoy their lives. He said that the church would use prayers to kill albino killers.

“We will surely pray asking God to kill albino killers,” he said.

An assortment of Articles on Albinos in Tanzania

Check out these articles on albinos in Tanzania.