The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) recently issued a ‘Solidarity Media Statement’on the killings of Malawian brothers and sisters with Albinism.
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| CCJP National Secretary, Chris Chisoni |
In the statement signed by CCJP National Secretary, Chris Chisoni and titled “Time to take action to stop the killings of Albinos in Malawi”, CCJP which is a social justice and advocacy arm of the Catholic Church in Malawi, appalled by the current abductions and killings of albinos being fuelled by an disdained desire for wealth and riches.
“CCJP is saddened and at pains to note that some people, be they Malawians or not, believe albinos have, due to their status, mystical or magical powers in their body parts, that would make someone rich, and in some cases that would make someone cleanse him/herself from HIV and AIDs,” read the statement adding that “Whilst CCJP acknowledges the efforts being made by various stakeholders, especially the media, local leaders and local security personnel, CCJP is worried and unsatisfied with the deafening silence and passivity from other key stakeholders, who in our considered view, seem not to see the contemporary problems faced by albinos as genuine problems to cause much national worry and coordinated interventions and responses.”
“We therefore, call upon government and its relevant ministries like the Ministry of Home Affairs and Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Faith Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Community Based Organizations, local leaders and communities to take up various actions to stop this public menace and defend the plight of our albino brothers and sisters,” read the statement.
Among others CCJP is worried that the Human Dignity of albinos is being denied as they are being reduced to an exploitative functional value of being a source of wealth for some people.
The Statement further says, “Yet regardless of their albino status, which has clear biological explanations, just like many other physiological disorders or disabilities, they are normal human beings and need to have their human dignity upheld and respected by all”.
CCJP was similarly worried that the belief in sanctity of human life for all people was being denied from albinos with the belief that their body parts can be a source of wealth or healing powers.
CCJP appealed for collective and national action to completely root out the problem that is slowly creeping in the country.
“We further contend that riches and wealth are only acquired through hard working, financial management discipline and investing and there are no proven linkages between the beliefs in magic or mystical powers to income generation. As such, no one should be fooled to take another person's life for the intention of getting rich,” concluded the statement. For a full statement, please refer to ECM website on www.ecmmw.org
Tanzania is facing a similar problem whereby activists say attackers have killed at least 75 albinos in Tanzania since 2000 to use their body parts in rituals. Recently, The President of Tanzania His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete promised to end a wave of killings of Albinos, saying, “We will not allow things to escalate as they did in previous years.”
The president was pleading for close cooperation between the government and society to end these killings of persons with albinism.
However, soon after his statement, another child with Albinism in Sumbawanga was attacked and seriously injured by unidentified people who disappeared with the palm of his right hand after cutting it.
By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications Officer and AMECEA Social Communication Office.