Another albino killed

As the action week against the killing, abduction and exhumation of graveyards of people with albinism is underway in the country, a 45-year-old man with albinism was brutally murdered by unknown criminals in Ntcheu on Tuesday. Disturbing images of the murdered man that went viral on social media yesterday show the deceased’s naked body with multiple injuries; and both arms, legs and private parts removed.

The deceased, identified as Fletcher Masina from Zintambira Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chakhumbira in Ntcheu, also had some kind of cloth tied around his mouth, apparently to prevent him from calling out for help.

According to Ntcheu Police Station spokesperson Gift Matewere, on Tuesday morning, the deceased and his wife went to water their vegetable garden and around lunch the deceased sent his wife home to do house chores.

Matewere said the wife was surprised to see her husband did not return home up to 5pm. She then notified her relatives.

“When the matter was reported to police we rushed to the scene and searched for him until we found his body dumped in reeds (bango) along Likhubula River, some metres away from their garden. Meanwhile, no arrest has been made in connection with the incident but investigations Matewere.are in progress,” said

During the action week which started on May 23 and will run to May 27, a Stakeholders Action Group against the killings and abductions of people with albinism is presenting various petitions to Parliament and justice delivery institutions, praying for strong laws and actions to put an end to the atrocities facing albinos.

Last week, an all-stakeholders conference on the spate of abductions and killings of people with albinism ended in Lilongwe with delegates proposing near State of Emergency measures to protect people with albinism.

Last week, statistics were indicating that Malawi has recorded 66 cases of albino victimisation, including six killings, 14 kidnappings, three missing persons and 29 tampering with graves