Govt must stop indiscreet killings of albinos

I READ a chilling and damning story by Vicky Ntetema of BBC on the revelation of the killing of at least 25 people with albinism in Tanzania. These killings occurred in the Lake Victoria Zone, and specifically in the areas of Mwanza, Shinyanga, and Mara.

Indeed, it is from crafty investigative journalism that Ntetema made Tanzanians aware of the horrendous crime committed by ruthless thugs, who cared less about the value of human life. Security that pertains to protect human life must be enhanced and those who commit senseless crime should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law of the land. This madness must stop because Albinos are decent people just like anybody in Tanzania.

I am writing this simply to urge law enforcement officials to take quick action to restore justice to those Albinos, who lost their lives in merciless killings. So far, I have not heard a strong condemnation from government authorities, and I urge them to take a strong stand against the crime committed to albinos.

Ms Ntetema has already made the task easier for the authorities by revealing the crime against humanity. What she has done is a great work that aims to avert the shame that this nation has already suffered. It is now the duty of the government to take legal action and try to ban all practices of traditional healers and conmen, who kill albinos for the purpose of using their body parts to heal patients in traditional crude methods. Ntetema, for example, says that organ parts of albinos are sold for about $2,000.000. This is crazy and inhumane.

Witchcraft in Tanzania is a very African traditional way used to heal or injure others. Indeed, the use of witchcraft to injure others is despicable, and especially when, in this case, people kill albinos, whose body parts are used by witch doctors to heal others. It is in this context that appears to suggest that albinos are living in fear of their lives everyday.

Security for their lives is now a paramount issue ringing in their head. If this trend continues, Tanzania may become the most dangerous country for albinos to live in. And, indeed, if not checked, who's next � bald people, or short ones?

Indeed, our country is at war. The war has many fronts including corruption, ignorance, poverty and now the crime against humanity � the killing of albinos by orders of witch traditional doctors. Surely, the government must have permanent campaigns against these maniacs, who kill albinos in their criminal acts to satisfy the demand of traditional witch doctors.

This war against crime of humanity must transcend all political and ideological divide in Tanzania. It must be the war of all Tanzanians, who must work to save their country out of the shame it is in now.

Another thing that we need to do, as a nation, is to wage the war against ignorance, among others. Simply, ignorance is related to lack of education, which is a key to enhancing development in Tanzania.

In this context the media must play a bigger role in educating the masses to adopt a civilized way of living better in their communities. For example, they should educate the masses to discard bad traditional practices that destroy humanity.??I am confident that we can succeed if the people and the government can work together to stop the killings of albinos for the use of witchcraft in Tanzania.

I beg to quote from Ntetema’s eye-opener. She writes as thus, "They are being killed because local witchdoctors say their body parts provide the potent ingredient for magic charms, which many local people use to bring success in business and love.’’

Which success in love and business is this that takes away the lives of others?

My wisdom for today comes from Tolstoy: ’’We live for ourselves only when we live for others.’’ Let us live for albinos.
Source: Thisday August 1, 2008.