Government Ready With Penal Code Amendment That Covers A lot On Albino Attacks

Samuel Tembenu

The Malawi Government says the reviewed penal code bill that broadly tackles the issues of ritual abductions and killings of persons with albinism will be brought to the National Assembly very soon before the ongoing meeting of the House comes to an end.

Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs, Samuel Tembenu said in an interview that the review process of the penal code has come to an end and this bill will bring the real change in terms of the prosecution of the cases relating to the abductions and killings of persons with albinism unlike the Anatomy Amendment Act which has been passed solely for strengthen sentences.

Hon. Tembenu said the bill he is set to present involved wide consultations including people those affected by the problem and further wondered as to how long it took Dowa East legislator, Richard Chimwendo to craft the newly passed Anatomy Amendment before bringing it to the House.

“Yesterday we had a stakeholders meeting where we sought the validation of what we are doing because that is important in the legislation. Now when you try to politicize the matter like that one it doesn’t work.” Said Hon. Tembenu

Unlike newly passed Anatomy Amendment which has been passed mainly imposing life sentence, Tebenu said the penal code bill is covering more than one aspect.

“Look we are targeting two pieces of legislation here.” He said “we are dealing with penal code. What we have done is to create offences within the penal code and there are different types of offences that we have created or trying to create that’s over and above what he has done. Him is only targeting issue of sentencing” he said and further assured that before rise of the meeting he will bring the bill.

Asked if the President will assent the newly passed Anatomy Amendment bill as possibly him as Justice Minister will advise the president not to, since Government has its own ‘comprehensive bill’ he replied “I don’t advise the president on whether to assent or not to assent. He does that and it takes 21 days. He has a good 21 days to do that assenting from the time the bill is sent to him. 

This is why I was explaining to those members who were making noise that look, the process of law making does not end in a day because after parliament it goes to President. If he chooses not to assent it it’s not my problem but am not saying he will not do it, he has the duty to assent to laws that are made by this parliament.” Said Tembenu