People living with albinism have suffered discrimination for a long time, but the recent spate of killings and abductions has taken matters too far. PAIDA MPASO spoke to BONIFACE MASSAH, executive director Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi, on whether the government is doing enough to protect them.
Q1: Recently there has been killings abductions and exhumations of people with albinism, how do you feel about such?
A1: Without a doubt we are distressed and we have a feeling the perpetrators are carrying out some sort of ‘ethnic cleansing’, something we don’t agree to. As people living with albinism, we are living in fear as we do not know whom to trust. It’s a very sad situation and we hope government will do something about this.
Q2: You have recently complained that government is not doing enough; what does the association want to be done?
A2: We are very grateful to President Arthur Peter Mutharika for condemning these acts and calling them barbaric. We also salute the leader of opposition, Dr Lazarus Chakwera, for his support. However, we believe there has been enough talk on this and we want action. We want government to begin awareness campaigns and demystify all these rumours that people think we are or we can do. People need to realise that we are no different from any other person; the blood which flows in us is also red, and we also bleed just like them; hence, there is no need for this stigma.
Q3: But awareness campaigns are not cheap to conduct?
A3: We are fully aware of that, but we know that there are already structures in place. We believe district assemblies or town councils have personnel who can do awareness campaigns cheaply and effectively. It’s just a matter of gathering people around and also moving in villages enlightening people on the dangers of killing each other. Other tasks then can be done depending on the availability of funds.
Q4: How bad is the situation in villages?
A4: Parents whose children have albinism are scared to take them to school because they don’t know whom to trust. The situation is even worse because wherever we are going, people scream offensive remarks at us as if we are some sort of an animal. Even those who did not have intensions to offend us, I have a feeling, will soon join in because there is nothing the government is doing to protect us.
Added to this are the many court cases whose judgements were unfair and need to be re-appealed. Then there are other cases for which we have no lawyers; this is very sad and it breaks my heart. Surely we need help.
Q5: But is there anything you are doing as an association to address some of the issues raised?
A5: Yes, right now, we are moving in the various districts where we have reported more cases than others, such as Machinga. What we have done is encourage and console each other. We are also working with the Federation of Disability Organisations of Malawi (Fedoma) and other organisations in these campaigns. But the bottom line is that these efforts are not enough and we need to move faster than before.n
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