Person with albinism gets house in Dedza

Government and Standing Voice have handed over a K13 million house to a girl with albinism who survived an attack in Traditional Authority Chilikumwendo in Dedza District.

In 2019, six masked thugs abducted and killed Goodson Makanjira, a 14-year-old boy with albinism while his parents and sister were sleeping in the same area.

During the attack, the girl’s parents and a relative who attempted to rescue the boy were injured.

Speaking at the handover on Friday, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare director of administration Benson M’bwana said they built the house to enhance security of people with albinism.

He said many houses for people with albinism are not strong or secure enough, making it easier for attackers to break in.

“After the attack in 2019, the government strengthened the laws to ensure severe punishment for perpetrators. Additionally, we began constructing houses for people with albinism to enhance their security,” said M’bwana.

Standing Voice executive director Boniface Massa, who is also a commissioner for the Malawi Human Rights Commission, expressed satisfaction with the project.

“Malawians will remember the tragic case of Buleya Lule, where a brother with albinism was murdered and Lule himself died in police custody. Since the surviving girl left home, this is her return,” he said.

The girl’s mother Misa Fanizo thanked the government and Standing Voice for providing her daughter a safer home.

T/A Chilikumwendo affirmed that traditional leaders have strengthened security measures to ensure the protection of people with albinism in the area.