Insecurity still haunts people with albinism – Massa

A disability rights advocate, Boniface Massa, has expressed the need to strengthening Civil Society voices and coordination in raising awareness on issues to do with albinism as one way of dealing with criminal syndicates.

Recent statistics have shown that between 2014 and 2019 At least 150 persons with albinism have been killed in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region with Malawi being second on the list of most affected countries.

Massa said despite the country developing the National Action Plan for the people with albinism, but there is need to do more.

Massa said: “We are calling upon leadership of different countries in the SADC region to ensure we have a strong coordination to look into the trans-border nature of killings and there should be a strategic response to such criminal syndicates.”

He further called upon concerted effort among all SADC countries and the need to holding the duty bearers accountable.

The 2014 and 2019 statistics revealed that Tanzania has recorded 76 deaths, Malawi 24 while Mozambique recorded 16 cases.

Two weeks ago, during the 39th SADC Heads of State Summit in Tanzania, the human rights body, Amnesty International, called on SADC leaders to intensify security measures on persons with albinism in the region.

In 2018 Government of Malawi launched a K3.1 billion four year National Action Plan on Persons with Albinism aimed at arresting atrocities against persons with albinism and enhancing their social welfare.

YFM