Man tries to kill son with albinism

A 26-year-old tobacco tenant in Mzimba is alleged to have attempted to kill his son with albinism for rituals.

Northern Region Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya said in an interview on Sunday the tenant, identified as Samuel Thaulo of Mwalukira Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Nthondo in Ntchisi, had been bothering his wife, Rose Phiri, 24, to kill their eight-month-old baby for rituals. The wife is said to have objected  to the idea.

Thaulo is alleged to have also brought up the issue of killing the child last week, a development that led to a fight between the two as the wife continued to object.

“Her husband has been forcing her into agreeing that they kill and sell their son so they can make money and graduate from poverty but she has been refusing. They have been quarrelling on the issue for some time and on June 9 2016 the husband brought up the issue again but the woman refused.

“Thaulo got angry and a fight broke out between the two. The wife was injured in the fight and she went to Engucwini Health Centre for treatment. After narrating the cause of her injury, medical personnel at the hospital alerted the police who arrested him. He is currently in custody at Enukweni Police Unit,” said Kalaya.

The development comes as Malawi joined the world in celebrating International Albinism Awareness Day yesterday.

The country is experiencing a spate of attacks on people with albinism, with some having been harassed, killed and abducted.

Police have vowed to arrest anyone one involved in such attacks.

President Peter Mutharika also declared war against anyone found to be victimising people with albinism.

Furthermore, some concerned citizens sought court intervention to ban witchdoctors, magicians, herbalists and fortune tellers from operating in Malawi, saying they are fuelling the albino killings. The case has since stalled for lack of funds. n