War Declared on Albino Killers

THE government and the Tanzania Albino Society (TAS) have agreed to form a committee that will comprise members from both parties, traditional doctors and all major stakeholders that will come up with a joint strategy to end the killings of albinos in the country.

This decision was reached when TAS leaders led by their chairman, Mr Ernest Kimaya, met President Jakaya Kikwete at the State House where the former presented their recommendations to the president.... War Against Albino Killers Declared

Four Albino Killers face Death Sentence

From left: Nassoro Charles, Singu Nsiantemi, Masaru Kahindi and Ndahanya Lumola, who were yesterday sentenced to death for the brutal murder of an albino woman in 2008

 The husband of a 32-year-old woman with albinism is among four men sentenced to death for her 2008 killing in Nyamaruru Village. Zawadi Magindu’s attackers, who included her husband Nassoro Charles, cut her limbs and right hand with an axe and a machete.

High Court Judge Joacquine Demello ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the four committed the murder.

The killers are Nassoro Charles, a resident of Beda Village in Kagera Region, Masaru Kahindi of Nyamaruru Village in Geita Region, Ndahanya Lumola whose origin was not stated, and Singu Nsiantemi from Kakoyoyo Village in Bukombe District.

The four attacked the woman at 7pm as she ate dinner. Kahindi, a neighbour, and Magindu’s husband were armed with an axe and a machete. They chopped off her legs and right hand.

Said the Judge: “The attackers also beat and threw out of the house the mother of the deceased, Ms Magdalena Mashimba, and her granddaughter, Semen Hamisi. As they beat the elderly woman, her granddaughter--who was hiding behind the door--identified the attackers and their voices since there was moonlight on that night.”...

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EDITORIAL - THE CITIZEN NEWSPAPER:

 Put an End to Albino Killings Now, Please!

The killing of people with albinism, ostensibly for their body parts, is a crime so heinous that we must do all we can to bring it to an end. It is disturbing that there is an air of desperation around this subject, with more lamenting than working out a plan of action to save these precious lives.

Members of the association of people with albinism see complacence on the part of the government. Why, they ask, does the expertise applied in catching killers of individuals “who matter” not come into force when superstitious thugs attack and dismember them?

The argument is that people whose level of thinking leads them to believe albino parts provide potent charms for quick riches and power do not have the sophistication to evade our generally well trained police. Such small brains are certain to leave behind trails that our police can follow and bring them to book.  Yet reports show that since 2000, there have been at least 74 albinos killings and 58 brutal attacks in which people have lost limbs or have been left permanently scarred. There are many unanswered questions on how many arrests and convictions have been made. As President Kikwete himself said in his February month-end speech, the attacks on albinos are a disgrace. How much anger must we whip up in order to get these killers behind bars?

In August 2010, police arrested a Kenyan at a guest house in Mwanza with an albino compatriot he wanted to sell to a willing Tanzanian buyer. Kenyan MP Isaac Mwaura,  who has albinism, told Radio Deutsche Welle recently that in his country, albinos are referred to as “Bongo”, a moniker for Tanzania.

In some countries, albinos are given special protection. This is not a matter for debate. We have no choice but to end this barbaric scourge. All citizens, regardless of what they look like, deserve a guarantee that they will be protected.
Editorial Can be Read Here 

Albinos 'Want Their Killers Executed'

A DELEGATION of people with albinism through the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) is expected to meet President Jakaya Kikwete on Thursday, this week, in which among others, will request the president to put into effect the death penalty on convicted albino killers.

"There are about seven people who are on death row...READ THE REST HERE

President Pledges Crackdown on Albino Killings

Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete promised to end a wave of killings of albinos, saying the witchcraft-related murders were shaming his east African nation.

Activists say attackers have killed at least 75 albinos in Tanzania since 2000 to use their body parts in rituals...READ THE REST HERE

Stop Albino Killings!

It is times like these that one loses his head. Why? Close your eyes for a bit and picture the dismembered body of an albino toddler. His crime? He was an albino. 

Can anyone explain to me why in this day and age people are hunted by fellow man and slaughtered?

Life, human life, is sacred and no one has the right to snuff out another’s life no matter the reason.

The recrudescence of the killings of people with albinism in an age when the rule of law is championed left, right and centre and human rights activism is at its best leaves, so much to be desired.

When people have the temerity to engage in the trade of albino body parts oblivious of the consequences speaks volumes about how people’s hearts are growing colder by the day.

What is fuelling the killings of our brothers and sisters? Why does it seem as if nothing is being done about the plight of people living with albinism?

For how long will fear be allowed to rule people who live in a free country – a country that prides itself as a haven of peace?

For how long will witchcraft and witchdoctors hold this country at ransom as they prescribe the body parts of people living with albinism – planting seeds of discord, disunity and faithlessness in fellow man?

Such questions cram the mind and can lead one to insanity – but I know I must be levelheaded!

Something needs to be done real fast.

Every Government Must Protect Its Citizens: The Tanzania Albinism Society

MESSAGE FROM THE TANZANIA ALBINISM SOCIETY:

 
After another horrific killing of our little brother Yohana Bahati, only 18 month old, our partner the Salif Keita Foundations also calls for action:

"We apologize for the graphic photo, but this is the evil that ignorance and violence produce.

Every government must protect their citizens from violent acts against their person regardless of race, gender, religion or any other reason.

Stand with us and call your national Tanzania consulate and tell them you care about albino lives and to end the violence against people with albinism now!"

WARNING! THE PHOTO BELOW IS GRAPHIC: 

The dismembered remains of an 18-month ALBINO TODDLER found in Tanzania.

Albinos Plan Demonstration

PEOPLE living with albinism yesterday announced their intention to demonstrate peacefully next month to push the government to intensify the crackdown on criminals who abduct and kill innocent people whose only ‘fault’ is being melanin deficient.

The National Chairman of the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS), Mr Ernest Kimaya, said the demonstrations, planned for March 2, are a response by the albinism-affected following the inhuman treatment meted on them spawning over a decade.

He noted with concern that some 76 people with albinism have been killed between 2005/2006 and this year; appealing for concentrated efforts to tackle the vice.

“We are now arranging the peaceful rally in which we would also like to meet President Jakaya Kikwete to tell him the ordeal that people with albinism go through,” Mr Kimaya said on the sidelines of a meeting between political parties and organisations of people with disabilities...READ THE REST

Check this too: Albino Toddler Murdered and Mutilated

Albino Toddler Murdered and Mutilated

Women carrying their albino children in Dar es Salaam. (Photo courtesy of the Milliyet Daily).

Check out the Story when the Albino Toddler was Kidnapped.

The UN human rights chief harshly condemned the murder and mutilation of an albino toddler in Tanzania, demanding authorities protect albinos, whose body parts are used for witchcraft in the country.

"Violence and discrimination against people with albinism must be halted," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement, condemning "the horrific murder and mutilation of Yohana Bahati."

The one-year old boy was seized by men with machetes from his home in northern Tanzania's Chato district overnight Saturday, and his mother was badly injured in the attack.

Police found his body, with his arms and legs hacked off, on Tuesday.

Zeid said attacks on people with albinism, which are often motivated by the use of body parts for witchcraft rituals, had claimed the lives of at least 75 people since 2000.

He warned that the attacks seemed to be on the rise, with at least three incidents over the past two months.
"I call on the Tanzanian authorities to swiftly investigate and prosecute perpetrators of this terrible crime and to strengthen its protection measures for people with albinism," Zeid said.

The UN repeated its fears that the uptick in attacks against albinos could be linked to looming general and presidential elections in October 2015, as political campaigners may be turning to influential sorcerers to improve their odds.

"This is the year of elections in Tanzania and, as some analysts have suggested, it could be a dangerous year for people living with albinism," UN country chief Alvaro Rodriguez warned Wednesday.

Albino body parts sell for around $600 in Tanzania, with an entire corpse fetching $75,000, according to the UN.

Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes. It affects one Tanzanian in 1,400, often as a result of inbreeding, experts say. In the West, it affects just one person in 20,000.

Mixed Reactions to the Story on the Kidnapping of an Albino Toddler

CHECK OUT THE STORY ON Another Albino Toddler Kidnapped

Wileharda says:

The Tanzanian Government is also to blame. They are not so serious in protecting the children. They always wait for little hand outs which then goes to government officials. If they were serious enough, they could find the people behind it. Imprison all the males, husbands. Only the woman are being attacked where are the guys. Its always the man who gets away with murder.
Second,
they should take all these children away and care for them as soon as they are born and protect them It should be mandatory. Even the top officials do go to these witch doctors to get promotions. Weak lows and not seriousnes of the government is to blame. They could find the people behind this if they wanted to. These are very small communities. neighbourhood watch if organized can solve the problem too.
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Traveler says:

I am going to be culturally insensitive for a minute: Seriously, how backwards of a nation still believes in the power of their "sorcerers" to influence a presidential election? Or that they get power from the bodies of albinos? No matter how advanced things are in most of the world or how educated the world population becomes, you will likely always have pockets of backwards thinking people. 

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JessicaB says:

I did volunteer work in Tanzania two summers ago and I saw one of these children in a village we visited. One of our Tanzanian friends told me that parents with albino children are encouraged to send their children to a special government-run boarding school where they can be protected from people killing them for use in witchcraft. I feel so sorry for this poor mother and the other parents who have to go through this. 

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JD says: 

Maybe UNICEF or something could begin a program there to help these parents get out as soon as an albino baby is born? Maybe the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation or Warren Buffet's whatever he has could pop over there and set up something?

Or is it not just kidnappers but the parents who are selling the babies too?

This is horrible that these ignorant, savage, barbaric people believe in things like carving up albino babies and selling them for use in potions. 

CHECK OUT: This War Will One Day be Won, But First...

Another Albino Toddler Kidnapped...

 An albino toddler has been kidnapped in northern Tanzania, police said, raising fears he may be killed and his body parts used for witchcraft.

Unknown attackers broke into the house and slashed the child's mother with machetes before snatching the one-and-half-year-old boy in the northern Tanzanian district of Chato late on Saturday.

"Two bandits armed with machetes stormed into their kitchen, they hit his mother with machetes and took away the baby," said regional police chief Joseph Konyo.

The child's father, who was nearby during the attack, is being questioned, he said.

"We have asked the public for cooperation to arrest the suspects," said Konyo.

Albino body parts are sought after in Tanzania for witchcraft. At least 74 albinos have been murdered in the east African country since 2000, according to the United Nations.

In August, a UN rights expert blamed a rise in attacks against albinos on looming presidential elections, due in October 2015, leading political campaigners to turn to influential sorcerers for help.

Albino body parts sell for around $600 in Tanzania, with an entire corpse fetching $75,000, according to the UN.

Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes. It affects one Tanzanian in 1,400, often as a result of inbreeding, experts say. In the West, it affects just one person in 20,000.

In December, a four-year-old albino girl was kidnapped in northern Tanzania. Multiple arrests were made but the child has not been found.