President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has accused Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera of being a “liar” and an “opportunist” for using attacks on albinos to score political gains ahead of the forthcoming May 21 polls.
Mutharika said this at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe six of eight people were sworn-in as commissioners of a Commission of Inquiry on Attacks, Abductions and Killings of Persons with Albinism.
In his speech, Mutharika warned the commission to desist from being carried away by some politicians who want to score political gains on the issue.
“Make no mistakes – there are politicians who are interested in making gains out of the plight of the persons with albinism. This explains the irrational pattern of events we have seen in the past few weeks.
First, Reverend Lazarus Chakwera suggested to Malawians that he knows who is abducting and killing persons with albinism. This statement is on record for history to remember.
“But this politician said he wants to be voted into power first in order to end the suffering of our brothers and sisters, our mothers, fathers and children with albinism,” said Mutharika.
He added: “Why not give the information now so that we can stop the suffering of our brothers and sisters with albinism? Obviously, this man Chakwera is a liar and an opportunist. He has no solution to the suffering of people living with albinism.”
Mutharika also urged Malawians to stop politicizing the albino killings in the country.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to all Malawians. Let us stop politicizing the unfortunate, painful and gruesome situation of the persons with albinism. Let us stop criminal civil societies from exploiting the pain and suffering of people with albinism to gain political scores.
“People with albinism are humans and they must be treated as humans. Let us not allow anyone to dehuminise them into objects of political propaganda,” said Mutharika.
He added: “What we need is to stop the gruesome murders and abductions once and for all. People living with albinism should not live in fear in their own country and communities.
“What we need is to unite and confront the barbaric acts against albinism and not encouraging the abductions and killings for political milage. And I repeat, no politician should encourage the murders and abductions in order to make albinism a campaign agenda.”
Meanwhile Chakwera is yet to react on the accusations made by Mutharika.
