Village Headman, Five Others Appear In Court For Exhuming Body Of Person With Albinism
Published on January 26, 2026 at 1:08 PM by Evance Kapito
Six suspects, including a local village headman, appeared before the Mkukula Magistrate Court in Dowa this afternoon for allegedly exhuming the remains of a person with albinism.
The group, which includes Village Headman Khombera, is facing charges related to trespassing on burial sites and the exhumation of a corpse. State Prosecutor Evans Chambuluka is leading the case and is expected to present witnesses before the court.
The suspects are accused of exhuming the body of the late Mausamatha Zacharia, a woman with albinism who passed away in August 2023. The incident reportedly took place on January 12, 2026.
The Accused are Village Headman Khombera (Dowa), Tony Chawando Mwale, 56 (Zomba), Msoloni Makuyira, 48 (Dowa), Maliton Maguya, 47 (Dowa), Lazalo Gideon, 24 (Dowa), and Yakobe Chakhaza (Dowa)
The arrest of a traditional leader in connection with the desecration of a grave for a person with albinism has sent shockwaves through the district. Human rights organizations continue to monitor the case closely, calling for stiff penalties to deter the ongoing superstitious beliefs that lead to the targeting of people with albinism, even after death.
