People living with albinism have pleaded with the government for safety guarantees following an upsurge in cases of ritual killings targeting albinos in countries such as Tanzania and Malawi.
BY REJOICE CHINGWARU
Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe founder, Loveness Mainato told a United Nations-organised round table meeting in Harare yesterday that their members were now living in fear that the scourge could spill into the country.
“The authorities should intervene at a regional level to ensure the safety of people living with albinism. Most albinos are afraid of travelling into neighbouring countries because of the prevalence of ritual killings,” she said.
The discussion coincided with commemorations of the International Albinism Awareness Day.
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Last year, at least 89 albinos were killed in Tanzania by suspected witchdoctors and traditional healers amid speculative beliefs that their body parts had healing properties.
“The ritual killings in Tanzania and Malawi have instilled fear in us. We are now afraid of crossing into neighbouring countries because we do not know what they think of us,” another participant, who declined to be named, said.
“Women living with albinism are being sexually abused by people who are HIV-positive in the belief that they will be cured of the virus. Living with albinism is quite difficult because you suffer different kinds of abuse,” she said.