Former President of the Association of Persons with Albinism (APAM) Overstone Kondowe who is also Chairperson of the African Union for Persons with Albinism (AUPA) has hailed the Malawi Police Service for arresting three suspects in connection with attack of Tafwauli Ngoma, an albino woman in Mzimba.
On February 15, unknown thug chopped off the toes of Ngoma, a 92-year old woman with albinism in Mzimba.
The attack angered many Malawians and some even took the issue to social media asking the government and the law enforces to apprehend the suspects and on Thursday the police managed to apprehend the suspects namely; Fumu Nyirenda, Eliah Mwandila and Kaphaso Nyirenda.
Writing on his official facebook page, Kondowe hails the police and demanded justice on the matter.
“We are very grateful to Malawi Police Service for swift investigations on the case of Tafwauli Ngoma in Mzimba. News has it that the toes have been recovered in Zambia from a witchdoctor. In addition, two suspects from the victim’s village have been arrested in connection to the case.
“Our plea now is therefore on speedy trial and sentencing of these human hunters. We also urge Zambian government to have a close watch on the practice of traditional healers in the country during their election season. Measures have to be put in place to bring witchdoctors of such behaviours to justice,” wrote Kondowe.
He added: “In extension, the trafficking in person act needs to be revised to criminalise trafficking of body tissues inorder to allow our courts to met stiffer sentences on convicts to such crimes.”
Malawi has so far registered over 150 cases of Albino attacks but very few cases have been concluded.