Ombudsman writes Capital Hill on albinos
In pushing for an end to atrocities against persons with albinism (PWA), Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has written Capital Hill that the moral test of government will be measured by how it treats its vulnerable citizens.
In a strong worded four-paged letter dated February 20 2019, addressed to Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Erica Maganga, Chizuma said the situation of people with albinism in Malawi presents a serious test to government.
The letter follows a meeting which Chizuma and the ministry had on the same day, where she presented various petitions to her office and how best government can tackle the matter.
She writes: “As a country, we cannot afford to lose another life or witness the brutalisation of another person with albinism. Each of their lives matter. Government needs to do whatever it can with resources at hand to protect our brothers and sisters.
“This is the right thing to do constitutionally, legally and morally. And so my expectation is that you as policy holder of the NAP [National Action Plan] will provide the required leadership over this matter and also send me the required documentation as requested within the shortest period of time.”
When contacted, Maganga said she had not seen the letter.
Meanwhile, opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), in a statement yesterday signed by its publicity secretary Reverend Maurice Munthali, demanded that government must declare the abduction and killings of people with albinism a national crisis.
MCP has also asked Homeland Security Minister Nicholas Dausi to apologise to PAW for stating that attacks on them were yet to get to levels where they should hold vigils at State House or seek asylum in other countries.
Since November 2014, the number of reported crimes against people with albinism in Malawi has risen to 152 cases, including 25 murders and more than 10 people missing, according to Association of People with Albinism in Malawi.
