"Albinism is associated with a
number of vision defects, such as
photophobia, nystagmus and
astigmatism. Lack of skin
pigmentation makes for more
susceptibility to sunburn and skin
cancers. "
-Toboa siri
Two witch doctors in Tanzania
have been arrested after a woman
with albinism was hacked to death,
police said. One of her legs and
several fingers were removed in
the attack on Tuesday.
Albinos have suffered widespread
persecution in Tanzania, where
witch doctors say magic potions
made with albino body parts can
bring good luck.
Such killings have declined in
recent years, but this latest attack
has prompted a human rights
group to call for all witch doctors
to be banned.
At a press conference, the group,
Under the Same Sun, said the
current regulation of witch doctors
was clearly not working.
Currently, all witch doctors have to
apply for a certificate from the
ministry of health and welfare to
practise.
The attack occurred in the village
of Gasuma, in Simiyu province, a
remote rural area in the northwest
of the country where there have
been killings of albinos before.
TWO PEOPLE ARRESTED
The woman’s left leg, two fingers
from her left hand and a nail from
one of the thumbs were removed.
According to Under the Same Sun,
which campaigns against the
discrimination of people living with
albinism, the last killing of an
albino in Tanzania was in February
2013.
Charles Mkumbo, police chief of
the Simiyu region in northwestern
Tanzania, said a man and a
woman, Gudawa Yalema and Shiwa
Masalu, had been arrested.
In Tanzania, albinos are killed and
dismembered due to a widespread
belief that charms made from their
body parts bring good fortune and
prosperity.
‘Witch doctors tell their clients
that the skin, hair, blood and
organs of persons with albinism
when combined with their magic
potions guarantee success, wealth
and election victory,’ the group
said in a statement.
