Lawmaker breaks down pleading for Albinos

A Tanzanian lawmaker broke down in tears in parliament Thursday as she pleaded the cause of fellow albinos, persecuted and regularly targeted for ritual killings in the region.

Al-Shaymaa Kwegyr told the house that when albinos are targeted, little is done to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

"When other people are killed or mistreated investigations are conducted swiftly and culprits brought to justice... but with albinos it can take years or decades,"...Read'>">Read the Rest of the Story Here

Canadian House of Commons condemns attacks on Tanzanian children with albinism

The campaign against the murder and mutilation of Tanzanian adults and children with albinism was unanimously supported by the Canadian House of Commons on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Members of Parliament supported a motion by Langley MP Mark Warawa that condemns the attacks on adults and children with albinism for their body parts, expresses the support of the citizens of Canada for people with albinism in Tanzania who have been the victims of such attacks,

urges the Government of Tanzania to prosecute perpetrators of these crimes "actively and aggressively" and calls on Tanzanian authorities "to take immediate action to prevent further violence against persons with albinism and to bring to swift justice those who engaged in such practices

."...Read the Rest of the Story Here

Tanzania's Attorney General forms team to probe albino killings

THE Attorney General's office has formed a national task force that will investigate into the killings of albinos in the country.

Deputy AG George Masaju told the Public Accounts Parliamentary Committee at the weekend that incidents of albino killings were on the rise, and thus a cause for concern.

"We are serious on the issue, we cannot just remain silent while someone is being killed...Read the Rest of the Story Here

Turn not a blind eye: Act!

This blog is dedicated to decrying the animosity leveled against people with albinism. It seems there’s been a recrudescence of violence against albinos in Tanzania in recent months.

Some of the albinos have been hacked, humiliated and even killed by people seeking their body parts to sell to witchdoctors who make charms and potions using them.

The witchdoctors have made people believe that when they take the charms and potions then they will increase their wealth bases, improve their security and safeguard their positions.

On this blog, I vent my heart’s contempt regarding the goings on.
Human life is sacred and no one has the right to cut someone else’s life short.
Albinos are human beings and they, too, are entitled to live.

Here I share links to PREVIOUS pieces I did to voice my stand on this issue:

1. This war will one day be won, but first...

2. Who will speak up for us if we don't stand up for them?

3. It's our call dear brethren

Gruesome Criminal Acts continue against children with Albinism in Tanzania

Here I reproduce Under the Same Sun's (UTSS)recent report on the violence and stigma leveled against albinos in Tanzania.

UTSS advocates for the rights of persons with albinism wherever they face discrimination.

Peter Ash, Under the Same Sun's CEO, says impassionately: “Justice has not come and horrifying crimes against children with albinism continue unabated in Tanzania. Only firm and decisive action on the part of Tanzanian government and society will stem this tide of innocent blood being spilled!”

In the last 10 months there have been four gruesome attacks against persons with albinism in Tanzania. Here are the facts:

1. Only four days ago on October 14, 2011 the machete attack and attempted murder of 12 year Adam Robert occurred in Geita Region, Tanzania. A man seeking his body parts for sale to witchdoctors and their customers began hacking off his arm. He resisted and was left laying in front of his home with multiple wounds including three fingers which were severed from his right hand. His three fingers will quickly fetch a handsome price in Tanzania’s continuing black market for albino body parts. Adam survived the gruesome attack and reported to police that his father, stepmother, uncle, and another male relative were involved in this criminal act. His testimony was confirmed by neighbours. Adam is currently in hospital suffering from severe wounds and trauma. He says he can never go home to his family. WARNING: The photos are GRAPHIC 1.Click HERE to see the Photo 2.Click HERE to see the Photo


2. On May 13, 2011, the murder by poisoning of 14 month old infant Doto Mbiti from the Ibanda Village, Geita Region, Tanzania occurred. His horrific killing was committed by an aunt simply because she did not want a child with albinism in her family. Two hospitals were unable to treat the poisoning and baby Doto passed away after extreme suffering in Sengerema Hospital. His tiny body is buried in the floor of a dirty animal shed to prevent the body parts from being stolen by those who poisoned him. The news of Doto’s murder was delivered to UTSS by his parents in August of 2011. The parents did not report his death to the police because of fear that they would never survive the Sukuma tribes’ traditional revenge. “Sukumas cannot stand relatives who reveal family secrets to the authorities” they said. The family also revealed that there have been several attempts to steal the body parts from the grave for use in witchcraft rituals.

3. In January of 2011 the abduction and bodily violation of 4 year old Meriki in Kasemie village, Geita Tanzania occurred. The assailant forcibly held the young boy for several hours. During this time Meriki’s hair was cut and collected by the attacker, for sale to witchdoctors and their customers. Albino hair is a hot commodity in Tanzanias’s dark underground market. When the man finally released Meriki, his grandmother noticed that part of his head had no hair and asked who cut it. He said the violation had been perpetrated by a neighbour, Mr. Robert Matage (40yrs). The crime was
reported to the police, Robert was questioned, and later released. On October 18, 2011 Tanzanian police told the media that the police could not interfere. UTSS believes this is an appalingly inadequate response.

4. On February 9, 2011 in Rukwa Region, three year old Juma Kapela was abducted while playing with a group of children. His recovery follows a four-day intensive search mounted jointly by the police, a team of Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) soldiers and villagers. For their safety, Juma and his 5 year old sister Wande, who also has albinism, have been removed from their family, friends & village and relocated to a safer place some 400 miles from home.


Young children with albinism experience Horrific suffering and neglect in Tanzanian public boarding schools.

On October 17, 2011 UTSS received information about several children with albinism who are residents of the government operated Buhangija boarding school in Shinyanga Region. The situation in Buhangija School is appalling and disturbing! The head teacher of the school made these remarks concerning the spreading skin cancer affecting the young students;

“It is the children’s fault that they have skin cancer.”

A mother who recently lost her 28 year old daughter with albinism to skin cancer was told by a doctor in Shinyanga;

“Don’t worry, this is how these people (persons with albinism) are.”

WARNING: The photo is GRAPHIC Click HERE to see the Photo


UTSS Believes that this stigma and discrimination is killing thousands of Tanzania n citizens with albinism .

Edmund Burke once remarked, “All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing!”. UTSS is unable to “do nothing”. We are asking that those perpetrating these atrocities
are brought to justice. We also seek a day when persons with albinism will take their rightful place in every level of Tanzanian society. We implore the authorities in Tanzania, media, NGO’s and all concerned citizens to raise the alarm about the ongoing slaughter and violation of persons with albinism in Tanzania.

Persecution of Albinos in Tanzania

Vumilia Makoye was like many other Tanzanians living with albinism. Due to her severe near-sightedness as well as constant ridicule borne from her peers’ ignorance, school was a constant challenge. She dropped out by age 17. One evening, Vumilia was eating dinner at home with her family in Tanzania when men approached her hut with long knives. Her family saw the men and tried to barricade the front door, but they were overpowered. Vumilia’s family watched as the men sawed off her legs above the knee and fled with her limbs...Click Here to Read the Rest

Albino ‘overcomes’ assailant

Story courtesy of Daily News, Tanzania

AN albino child who is admitted to the Geita Hospital in Mwanza Region after he was attacked by a man who was after his body parts said he survived by biting the assailant’s private parts.

Adam Robert (14), whose condition is improving said that he managed to bite the man amid the gruesome attack, forcing the goon to run away before cutting his fingers.

“When he was cutting my hand, I was yelling and after a few moment he started preparing to chop off my fingers. That is when I got the chance of biting his private part. That man managed to cut my fingers after I fell down while trying to escape,” narrated the shocked but brave kid.

Narrating the ordeal, Robert said that he met the man (suspect) last Friday, when he came looking for
his cow. Robert, who was grazing the cows, said that the man stayed with him at the grazing ground before disappearing in the forests.

“After a few minutes, the man came back this time offering me a hat but I refused telling him that I had mine with me, after which I decided to move closer to my home,” he said.

Later in the evening, Robert said that the man came to their house on the pretence of looking for his lost cow. He arrived finding the victim with his father.

“After introducing himself to my mother, I informed my father to have met with the man at the grazing grounds,” he said, adding that later the man left the premises.

According to the father, one Robert Tangawizi (36), the following day (Saturday) attacked the child and cut off his body parts before he run away. According to the father, the suspect is still at large.

Past Stories on this Blog

Click on these links to read some past stories on this blog.

...Who Are Albinos?

...Who will Speak up for us If we don't Speak up for Them

...Are you Really your Brother's Keeper?

...Prayer of an Albino in Tanzania

Kahama, Bukombe Districts named as most lawless

Kahama and Bukombe Districts of Shinyanga region are the leading districts for various acts of lawlessness including armed robbery, robbery and use of weapons.

Police Commander of Shinyanga region, Diwani Athumani, has confirmed that these districts have many challenges for the police force and voluntary protection where many criminal acts and murders of the elderly continue to be reported within the district.

This Commander gave this report following up the lead in various criminal acts especially of armed robbery and murders of the elderly last year.

Athumani told journalists that one of the main reasons for the existence of this situation is that these districts have a great influx of visitors from within and outside the Shinyanga region, adjoining regions and neighbouring countries.

Furthermore, he said these districts have had areas for large and small and mining industries of gold and diamonds.

Likewise, these districts have large influxes resulting from being on the main bitumen road from Isaka to the neighbouring countries of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and Uganda as well as the refugee camps which are in the adjoining regions of Kagera and Kigoma.

He said because of these circumstances, murders of the elderly and people with albinism have been occurring in these areas and other areas like Bariadi, Shinyanga, Maswa and Meatu involving a small percentage.

Concerning the steps which have been announced to be taken by the police force to tackle this situation, he said starting in 2011 police plan to ensure a peaceful and calm situation will be reinstated within all these lawless areas.

“As the police force, we have set ourselves the target for the year 2011 to ensure serious crimes reduce and stop and don’t exist at all: what I am saying is for those armed robbers to look other things to do,” Diwani said.

He made it clear that police using voluntary protection, will cooperate with citizens to get reports about crime and that these will not be leaked.

Moreover, he said that they will confirm they are using sungusungu to strengthen protection within these regions and that sungusungu groups, are getting education about protection and security strategies.

Salum Khalfan Barwany - Tanzania's Albino MP fears for his life

Tanzania's first elected albino member of parliament fears his life could be in danger in the east African country where albino hunters kill their victims and use their blood and body parts for witchcraft.

Salum Khalfan Barwany said he may be threatened by an unknown group that has been tracking his movements since he was elected MP for the Lindi Urban constituency in southern Tanzania in an October 31 election...Check out the Rest of Story Here

Vicky Ntetema: A Resolute and Courageous Woman...

...a woman who has the interests of Albinos in Tanzania at heart

Vicky Ntetema,a Tanzanian journalist

Question: What exactly inspired you to singlehandedly hold the bull by its horns, going after and exposing those who engage in the insane acts? Was it a duty call? Has the practice ever affected your personal life before you took off? do you have friends or relatives who are albinos?

Answer: I hate to be a witness to injustices and standby without doing anything. And as a journalist, I owe it to my profession and the public to go an extra mile to find the truth and tell it as it is. What would you do when a mother tells you that she was forced to choose between releasing her seven month old baby with albinism to the killers and witnessing the slaughter of three of her children one by one until they get what they want!

What about listening to a teenager boy narrating with pain about the killers who had to butcher his mother and pregnant sister to get a leg of his ten year old sister with albinism because a witchdoctor ordered it for a client? Would you keep quiet when you hear how helpless underage children watch as the neck of their five year old kid sister is slit open, legs hacked off, blood drunk by killers who disappear with the limbs and tongue! I had to do something!

...Check out the Rest of the Interview Here

Parliamentary candidate's gaffe during a campaign rally

This BLOGGER says:

....It was insensitive of him to make such a remark. He should have known better than to say such a thing. He is one who should be leading the way in the fight against albino discrimination...

Story courtesy of The Guardian newspaper, Tanzania

Lindi Urban CCM parliamentary candidate Mohamed Abdul Azizi has conceded that the Civic United Front (CUF) presidential candidate, Prof Ibrahim Lipumba, is a well learned economist who could bring economic revolution in the country if elected president.

Azizi, who also doubles as Iringa Regional Commissioner, is defending his position in the constituency he has been representing in parliament for a long time.

He told a campaign rally at Matopeni area that Prof Lipumba was one of the most brilliant academicians in the country who has offered his contribution to the development of the country and other nations.

The parliamentary candidate cited the US and European countries whose economies the professor had helped to improve, but told the potential voters that the time for Prof Lipumba to run the country was yet to come because of the existing traditional transfer of authority, for which he didn’t elaborate.

In another turn of events, Azizi and his campaign manager Khalfani Mandanje, used abusive and stigmatising language against Lindi Urban parliamentary candidate Salum Bar’wani from the Civic United Front, saying he was unsuitable because he was an albino.
They told the electorate in Ng’apa, Mingoyo, Chikonji and Matopeni wards at varying times of the campaigns that

under normal circumstances people with albinism suffered memory loss because of the lack of Vitamin C as they are exposed to sunlight.

CCM candidate Azizi is quoted to have said: “In the past, our elders spat on their chests if they met albinos in the morning to drive away any curse.”

An embittered Bar’wani told journalists that people harbouring such attitudes were no different from those who killed albinos for superstitious reasons.

He is considering to petition to the national electoral commission.

Meanwhile, Azizi asked the electorate to vote him back into parliamaent so that he could finalise the construction of his hotel. But he did not give details.

Plight of albinos should shame us to the core

...SNAPSHOTS...

...At what point did we lose our humanity that we regard anyone who looks even slightly different from the majority as a lesser being? Albinos deal with prejudice every waking day of their lives, and perhaps even in sleep. Just being in public is a nightmare for most...

...The silly and futile belief that sacrificing albinos brings good luck, has led to their being hunted down, killed and their body parts sold to witchdoctors.
It is easy to pass on the burden of responsibility in ending this horrific and beastly trade to the Government and police, but that will not make it go away...

...We must stand up to be counted among the defenders of this endangered minority, whose only ‘crime’ is that they lack the ability to make enough melanin to turn their skins ebony...

...Albinism is due to a genetic defect that exists in a percentage of any sample of the population, and has nothing to do with black magic or sorcery. Albinos have no supernatural abilities, and to believe otherwise is FOOLISH!...
...Check out the Story Here

In Swaziland: Albino (11) shot, beheaded

The death of an 11-year old Albino girl will forever be etched on the minds of her friends who watched haplessly after she was abducted, shot and beheaded...Check out the Story Here

In Kenya: Woman kills albino child to avoid bad omen

A woman who killed her four-month-old baby because she was an albino has been sentenced to serve one year in jail by a Gucha court.

Sara Kemunto Nyabuto, 23, committed the offence on August 2, 2010 at Bokimweri sub location in Nyamache district...Check out the Story Here

Only education will end albino killings

Story courtesy of The Guardian newspaper, Tanzania

By Gerald Kitabu

This week Gerald Kitabu interviewed Claus Ngowi, a student at the Institute of Social Work who has done research on albino killings. Excerpts:

QUESTION: What moved you to conduct research on albino killings?

ANSWER: I had accompanied a Swedish photojournalist, Johan Bavman, who had come to Tanzania to conduct a research on albino killings. I joined him and visited many parts of the country to document the killings. We wanted not only to sensitize the public to protect them and to urge government take concrete measures against these killings.

Q: What kind of stories were you gathering from the field?

A: Many horrifying stories one cannot imagine. For example, in April 2008, a woman close to 40 years in the lake Zone had sent her 10-year-old daughter to school as usual. On the way back, she walked with two other girls from the neighbourhood. During the short walk, they met a man who promised to give them sugarcane if they went with him to the corner of the road near a forest. When they arrived, he told the other two girls to go away. Her daughter who was an albino was hit hard in the head.

Q: Why do killers do that?

A: According to research, many killers are superstitious; they believe that albino arms, legs and genitals can bring them fortune. Rich men and witch doctors use poor and desperate people to carry out their dirty work of looking for albino body parts.

Q: How do albinos feel?

A: When you talk to many albinos, you find out that they are resigned; many think that their fellow human beings whom they used to eat, play and live together in peace have turned against them. Some albinos say that the government, too, is no longer with them because some cases are still pending in courts.

Q: What is the magnitude of the problem at present?

A: The problem is very big, and the war against albino killers is far from being won. Many people may think that incidents of albino killings are declining. They’re not. In fact, it is because the media people are not reporting such incidents.

Q: What strategies do killers use?

A: It seems the killers keep on changing their tactics every passing day. But their main techniques include sweet words and promises like marrying them, helping them to get jobs in big cities like Dar es Salaam, using their friends in exchange for money, forging friendship with them and hunting them during night.

Q: You have said that you are now planning to make a movie on your research, why?

A: To see is different from to hear. To see something has immediate impact than to hear or read in newspapers. I would like therefore, to deliver the message in a very simple but practical way so that all people and stakeholders can feel the same way Albino feels so that they can act on it faster. Movies are the best way to deliver the message as compared to other methods.

However, being a social worker, I would like to apply my profession to educate the public through movies on the problem.

Q: Where will you get the donors to finance your movies?

A: Every person in Tanzania is a victim of albino killings because they are our fellow Tanzanians, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. I think if I talk to donors about the movie, any good Samaritans will be interested to finance it.

Q: What should be done to protect them?

A: I see it as a more of societal problem; a problem that can be solved only when you educate the community. The media and the police force alone will never stop this menace among us. It is only education that will end the killings. However, the government should have a policy that will clearly articulate and guarantee security, including introduction of a special institution which will provide home- based care to albinos.

Under the Same Sun's Albinos Honour Roll

9 PERSONS WITH ALBINISM SURVIVE BRUTAL
MACHETE ATTACKS IN TANZANIA.

Emmanuel FESTO, age 7, survived a brutal machete attack on November 12,
2007. His arm was hacked off and the fingers of his remaining hand were also chopped
off. Emmanuel has been relocated to a safer place and is now attending a private
boarding school sponsored by the UTSS Education Scholarship Fund.
Emmanuel Festo
NOTE: Official reports indicate that between 2007 and 2010, 66 persons with albinism have
been brutally attacked; their body parts hacked off and sold to witchdoctors. Of the 66
attacks, 57 were murders and 9 are mutilated survivors. Leaders in the albinism
community believe the number of attacks & deaths is closer to 100 or...Check out the Story Here

They call us ‘albinos’ — the licence to mock and murder fellow humans

Truly the East African Economic Community has taken off. You can now move all sorts of goods and merchandise across the common border without hindrance. Indeed, there is this lucrative trade item — the albino.

You do not have to carry it across the border, it will walk across with you, and even keep you company on the way. If it happens to be your childhood friend, well, that’s just a minor inconvenience. The sale of its hair, legs, arms will fetch you millions...

If the story of Robinson and “friend” Nathan was not so tragic, it would be very funny...Check out the Story Here

Albino who was being sold was abandoned by parents

Mr Robinson Mnoti Mkwama, alias Musungu, who was about to be sold to human traffickers in Tanzania, was abandoned by his parents at an early age in Nairobi.

Mr Mkwama, who has albinism, was brought up in an orphanage in Nairobi, where he pursued his education to Form Four...Check out the Story Here

This new threat against albinos should be nipped in the bud

THE CRIMINAL trade in body parts of people with albinism has taken a new and most alarming dimension that involves smuggling albinos from neighbouring countries and "selling" them alive in Tanzania.

Police in Mwanza Region are holding a Kenyan, Nathan Mtei, who allegedly brought a teenage albino, Mr Robinson Mkwana Mnyoti into the country looking for a buyer at a price of 400m/-...Check out the Story Here

Kenyan jailed 17 years, fined 80 million/- over albino deal

Story courtesy of The Guardian newspaper, Tanzania

Nathan Mutei, a Kenyan, is escorted out of court in Mwanza. He was jailed for 17 years.

The Resident Magistrate's Court in Mwanza Region has sentenced a Kenyan national, Nathan Mtei Mwasha, to a 17-year jail term and a fine of 80m/- after he was found guilty of human trafficking and attempting to sell an albino, Robinson Mukwana, for 400m/-.

Mwasha was arrested for allegedly trafficking Mukwana from Kitale (Kenya) to Tanzania with the intention to sell him.

When he first appeared in court, he pleaded guilty to the charges against him, which prompted the magistrate to give his verdict within a short time.

Delivering judgement on Wednesday, resident magistrate Angelous Rumisha said the accused’s attempt to sell the albino was inhuman and barbaric, and that the punishment given was indented to deter other people.

Earlier, state attorney David Kakwaya alleged in court that the accused committed the offence on August 12, this year.

Kakwaya explained that the accused told Mukwana he was taking him to Tanzania to offer him a job, to which he agreed without knowing that he was going to be sold.

He said the accused came to Mwanza for the first time in June, this year, to look for a witchdoctor, whom he told he had some albino bones and he was looking for customers.

Kakwaya noted that the witchdoctor told him to give him time as he looked for the customers.

“The witchdoctor reported the matter to the police, who set up a trap. However, the accused managed to sneak out of the country before the police apprehended him,” Kakwaya told the court.

He said when the accused and his unsuspecting prey arrived in Mwanza on August 12, this year, they booked at River Side Guest House in Buzurugwa area.

He said the accused then called the witchdoctor, who had promised to look for customers. Instead he informed the police, who apprehended him before he could accomplish his ill mission.

................... ........

This is how

BBC

reported the incident:...Check out the Story Here

2 weeks ago: Albino killer challenges verdict in Appeal Court

Story courtesy of The Guardian newspaper, Tanzania

Check out the Previous News Piece on the same Story

Kazimili Mashauri (50), who was recently sentenced to death by hanging after he was found guilty of killing a five-year-old albino girl, has lodged an application to the Court of Appeal of Tanzania in Mwanza challenging the High Court’s verdict.

The Court of Appeal yesterday confirmed it had received the appeal by the convict, who was sentenced to death for killing Mariam Emmanuel.

The appeal was filed by the convict’s counsel Wilbroad Butambala recently, High Court Registrar Isaya Arufani confirmed yesterday.

The verdict was delivered on July 27, this year, by High Court Judge Projest Rugazia.

According to the High Court registrar, the convict’s counsel challenges High Court proceedings during the determination of the case and the death sentence imposed on the convict.

The judgment, which lasted for an hour, was read by Judge Rugazia, who argued he was satisfied with prosecution witnesses levelled against the first accused, who he found guilty of murder.

He said he could not implicate an accomplice (the second accused) because the prosecution did not table strong evidence as claimed by court assessors and as a result, he set him free.

Judge Rugazia, while reading the verdict, said the prosecution depended much on witness number two Nhindi Emmanuel assertions that for quite sometime, he was used in the case, therefore, it was easy for the witness to identify the accused.

The prosecution brought eight witnesses including the mother of the deceased girl, Flora Mabula, and her two children.

The murder of the albino girl occurred on January 21, 2008 at around 04:00am in Nyangh’olongo Village, Misungwi District in Mwanza Region, whereby the accused murdered and drank the blood of the albino girl from a bowl.

3 weeks ago: Tenth person sentenced to death over albino killings

Story courtesy of The Guardian newspaper, Tanzania
Kazimili Mashauri seated (L) after being sentenced to death by the Mwanza High Court for killing Mariam Emmanuel (5). With him is Mathias Itangala, who was acquitted.
A Mwanza resident, Kazimili Mashauri was yesterday convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of five-year old child, Mariam Emmanuel who was suffering from albinism.

His conviction by the High Court in Mwanza brought to 10 the number of sentenced to death for albino killings that rocked the country three years ago.

The killing of the albino child occurred on January 21, 2008 around 4.00 am at Nyangh’olongo village in Misungwi District, Mwanza Region. Hearing of the case started on July 6, this year, and the prosecuting side had four witnesses including the mother of the child, Flora Mabula.

Mashauri was the first accused in the case involving the brutal killing of the five-year old child.

The second accused in the case, Mathias Italanga, alias Machona was freed by the court.

In its first ruling in September last year, the High Court sitting in Shinyanga sentenced to death three accused persons in connection with the killings.

In October last year the High Court in Tabora Zone sentenced three accused persons to death by hanging after they were found guilty of two separate murders of albinos that were committed between 2002 and 2003.

Three other accused people were sentenced to death by hanging by another High Court sitting in Shinyanga in November last year.

Yesterday’s landmark ruling that lasted for almost one hour yesterday, was read by High Court Judge Projest Rugazia who said the court arrived at the decision after being satisfied with the evidence presented by the second witness in court against the first accused in the case.

Rugazia said the court had decided to set free the second accused in the case because evidence tendered in court against him was shallow as suggested by the court assessors.

He said the court verdict was made on the basis of evidence presented by the second witness to the case, Nhindi Emmanuel, who, according to the judge, witnessed the murder.

“The court believes that the evidence tendered by the second witness is true because it was supported by the evidence presented by the deceased child’s mother,” said Rugazia.

The judge rejected defense statement presented by the convict as untrue.

He said the court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt by the evidence presented by the second witness, who had said that he saw the convict killing the child and drink her blood.

On the material day, the second and third witnesses were sleeping with the murdered child.

The trio who were convicted in September, last year and are now on death row are Masumbuko Madata (32) of Itunga Village, Emmanuel Masangwa (28) of Bunyihuna Village and Charles Kalamuji alias Charles Masangwa (42) of Nanda Village, all in Bukombe District.

They were convicted by Judge Gabriel Rwakibarila after being found guilty of conspiring and killing an albino schoolboy, Matatizo Dunia (13), on December 1, 2008 at Bunyihuna village in Shinyanga Region’s Bukombe District.

Ilanga Bagagu, a resident of Nyakabindi village, Dutwa hamlet in Bariadi District, was convicted in October, last year , after being found guilty of killing his best friend, Emmanuel Maduhu, a businessman selling onions in the district.

Others who were also sentenced to death are Masalu Misalaba of Lyagiti village and Said Masolwa alias Bunga of Lyabukande.

Delivering the judgement, Judge Mjalius said that both accused were found guilty of conspiring to kill Masolwa, who was brother of accused Said Masolwa.

He said that on February 3, 2003 the accused together with others, who did not appear in court, attacked Masolwa who was riding a bicycle together with Manyeye Bukamu.

Those who were sentenced to death in November last year by the High Court Judge Gadi Mjemas included Mboje Mawe, Chenyenye Kishiwa, Sayi Gamaya and Sayi Mafizi, all residents of Nkindwabiye village in Bariadi district, Shinyanga region to be hanged to death.

He said the four conspired and killed Lyaku Wille (50) of Nkindwabiye village between November and December 2008.

Judge Mjemas said he was convinced beyond reasonable doubt based on evidence adduced from DNA results conducted by a government chemist, Gloria Machube that matched blood stains found on the weapons which were in the accused possession, that none other than the accused committed the offence.

Under The Same Sun at NOAH 2010

This July, UTSS had 12 representatives at the Washington DC national conference on
albinism. There were 4 from Tanzania and 8 from Canada. NOAH (National Organization for Albinism & Hypo-pigmentation) is an American - based non-profit organization that sponsors a conference every 2 years representing the albinism community.

This year’s event reported over 900 in attendance with a moderate representation from the international community as well. We met fellow Canadians, Tanzanians, South Africans, a gentleman from Senegal, another from Nigeria, and a number of folk from
Australia – a very diverse crowd to say the least. For those of us with albinism, the sense of kinship, affinity, connection, and understanding was palpable as we were surrounded by this unique fellowship that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet and certainly not in our day to day lives.

For those of us without albinism there was the unique experience of being a minority group to the people with albinism surrounding us. It felt right! For both groups, the deepest expressions of this experience were manifested in tears and laughter as words failed to capture its essence. ...Check out the Story Here

Terrible tale in court: How albino was ruthlessly killed

This article was translated by Jean Burke for this blog from a Kiswahili newspaper (NIPASHE)

The second witness in the case of the murder of a child with albinism, has described to the Supreme Court of Tanzania of Mwanza Zone that he saw the first defendant, Kazimili Mashauri, when he killed his younger sister, Mariam Emmanuel (5) and that he told them if they made a sound they would be killed.

A part of the examination, between this witness, Nhindi Emmanuel, who is in Grade Five and the Public Prosecutor, Ayub Mwenda, before the Judge Projest Rugazia who is hearing this case , was as follows:

Lawyer: What happened at night when you were asleep?

Witness: Three people woke us up.

Lawyer: What did they tell you?

Witness: Lie down. If you make a noise we will kill you.

Lawyer: What did they have?

Witness: One had a machete, the second had a knife and the third a torch.

Lawyer: After telling you to lie down, what did they start to do?

Witness: They started to kill our little sister.

Lawyer: Who was killing her?

Witness: Kazimili.

Lawyer: What were the other two doing?

Witness: One was catching the blood by using a saucepan.

Lawyer: The other?

Witness: He was shining a torch.

Lawyer: After killing her, what happened then?

Witness: Kazimili drank the blood.

Lawyer: What happened after slaughtering her?

Witness: They cut off her legs.

Lawyer: How did you recognize Kazimili?

Witness: He was shining light with the torch.

Lawyer: Where was Kazimili living?

Witness: Just in the village.

Lawyer: What did you do after they left?

Witness: I went into my grandfather’s room to tell him, I called him Grandpa, Grandpa but he didn’t wake up. Later my uncle came and he kept calling him and then he woke up.

The witness told the court that he explained to his grandfather that Mariam was ruthlessly killed by Kazimili and then his grandfather lit a lamp and went to look.
He was questioned by the lawyer defending the first accused, Willbard Butambala, if the murderers hit him, and the witness described to Judge Rugazia that Kazimili hit him with the machete on his back.

In another event, Judge Rugazia decided to use his discretion after the third witness in this case, Jesca Emmanuel or Ndashaba didn’t understand the meaning of an oath and the effects of lying.

This witness who didn’t mention her age, told the judge that she is in first class in Ukiriguru Primary School in Misungwi district.

She was assisted by an interpreter, Jackson Tinapo, who interpreted the questions into Sukuma language, this child said she didn’t know when she started school, and the lessons which she is studying and that they did exams in February.

Because of the situation, Judge Rugazia said this witness didn’t appear to understand and it was unnecessary to teach her about oaths, and so permitted her to give evidence without an oath.

This case, number 42 of the year 2009 concerns the two accused, Kazimili Mashauri (48) and Mathias Italanga (60) known as Mahona.

The murder of Mariam occurred on January 21, in the year 2008, at 4 in the morning in Nyangh’olongo village of Misungwi district Mwanza region.

This case began to be heard on Tuesday when the mother of the deceased, Flora Mabula, gave evidence before Judge Rugazia adjourned it until yesterday. The case continues today.