Woman arrested for calling albino cousin ‘money’

A 25-year-old woman was on Friday arrested by the police and appeared before Mchinji Magistrate court for calling her cousin with albinism ‘money’.

Mchinji Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Moses Kajawa Nyirenda told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that Zione Kamngola from Tembwe in Traditional Authority Mlonyeni had on two occasions, allegedly called her 22-year-old cousin with albinism Gertrude Ulaya, ‘money’.

“Ulaya complained to her mother that her cousin kept calling her ‘money’ and fearing the recent attacks on people with albinism in the country, the mother reported the matter to Mchinji Police leading to Kamngola’s arrest,” said Nyirenda.

He said when Kamngola appeared before the court, Mchinji first grade magistrate Rodwell Meja Phiri referred the matter to the Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe for further hearing and trial.

A source at the court told MANA,all cases concerning attacks on people with albinism were to be held in a higher court according to the orders from the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the court gave the police a remand warrant and the accused who was charged with the offence of intimidation and conduct likely to cause breach of peace was due be taken to Maula prison in Lilongwe pending trial.