National News

People with albinism hail housing project

People with albinism in Lilongwe District have commended the Ministry of Lands for building houses for some people with albinism to improve their security.

They said this on Friday when officials from the ministry and Lilongwe District Council inspected a house government constructed for Siyana Kamtengo, 20, a person with albinism from Traditional Authority Masula in the district.

“We were not safe living in our former house. At night we could hear people trying to break into our house. But with this house, we are now safe,” she said.

Beneficiaries sit on the veranda of the house

Kamtengo, who stays with her grandmother, asked government and well-wishers to assist her and the family with capital to start a small-scale business.

“Our grandmother is old and she does not do anything to generate income, but my sister and I are strong and we can run business,” she said.

The ministry’s deputy director responsible for rural housing Kingsly Lungu expressed satisfaction with the progress of the housing project for people with albinism.

He said it was encouraging that there are no abduction reports on people with albinism lately.

“This project is being implemented nationwide except Likoma where there is no person with albinism. People with albinism are excited as they feel secure and safe. We believe that this project will go a long way in preventing abductions,” said Lungu.

He disclosed that government plans to construct 100 houses for people with albinism in five years and it has already constructed 67 houses nationwide, with 11 of them in Lilongwe District.

Government started constructing the houses in 2021.

The country witnessed attacks, abductions and killings of people with albinism between 2014 and 2020.

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