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| Frank Manyowa |
The umbrella body Organization of traditional healers in Malawi suspects foreign immigrants claiming to be traditional healers as being those fueling attacks and killings of people with albinism in the country.
Fingers are pointing at traditional healers for being ones tricking people that body parts of an albino can bring fortune such as wealth.
But Frank Manyowa, President for the Traditional Healers Association of Malawi has cleared Malawian herbalist from the rumours saying they do not have a hand in these ugly violence.
Manyowa said the group had recently met to hunt for possible perpetrators among their circles following the allegations that it is them perpetrating attacks of persons with albinism. But he said they did not identify Malawian herbalist perpetrating this and therefore concluded that the perpetrators are foreigners who came into the country and claim to be traditional healers.
“We have observed that this is a strange practice and we have never had this situation before in the country.” He noted
“We have noted that with recent influx of foreigners particularly those that are claiming to be traditional healers coming from various countries including Tanzania are possibly ones who have brought this." He said, and explained "Because we have learnt that a number of Traditional Healers have fled from Tanzania into Malawi because of tough regulations there”
While distancing themselves by stressing that Malawi traditional healers are clean from these evil he described these killings as "witchcraft rituals" which he said they don’t condone and condemn in strongest terms.
The traditional healers president indicated that their grouping is guided by code of conduct which does not allow any of their member to practice magic and drawing distinction between real traditional healer and sham traditional healers, he said real traditional healers only provide herbs and medicine to heal specific illnesses while the fake ones claim to multiply money and do all sorts of magic just to steal from people.
He disclosed that their association has resolved to register all traditional healers and that those who may shun the excercise will never be allowed to practice their medicine in the country.
“From today, I would like to announce that we will not allow any traditional healer to make adverts on radio without our approval” announced Manyowa who expressed his disappointed that the issue of albino attacks has badly affected thier businesses
He further asked Courts to give life sentences to culprits found guilty in these attacks and hinted that they will be conducting sensitization across the country to stop people from believing false rumours that albino body parts can bring wealth.
Ministry of Justice Response To Albino Killings
Meanwhile, Neverson Chisiza a Senior State Advocate in the Ministry of Justice and Prosecutor for the cases of albino said the ministry is revisiting the operations of the Traditional Healers to ensure that they meet standards.
He among other things mentioned that the ministry has placed focus on the cases of albino attacks and killings and that “This matter has been given seriousness it deserve”
He disclosed that for immediate solutions on sentencing, his office has already sent some proposed provisions that are calling for stiffer sentences to Solicitor General which include capital punishment for being found in possession with fresh body parts and bones while for exhumation of bones is the proposed sentence is “not less than life imprisonment”
Chisiza mentioned also that the ministry of Justice is in the process of reviewing some laws such as Anatomy Act, to ensure that courts are handing stiffer sentences to culprits, letting all cases involving albinism be handled by professional magistrates and that the Ministry is also working on handbook that have all provisions for the charges to do with attacks on persons with albinism to guide prosecution in such cases.
As some are continuing with attacks and killings of persons with albinism, police have said they have established that there are no markets for body parts or bones of persons with albinism as it is alleged.
Stan Kaliza, a Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police at Police Headquarters said all culprits who have been arrested so far, have confessed that the time of their arrests they were stranded walking around with albino bones and body parts for they had no clue of where to sell the parts.
“The culprits caught so far have told police that they killed an albino or exhumed their bones just because they heard rumors that having those parts is a hot business, so they were just walking around with the body parts. There is no market all and this is just completely unfounded rumours.” He said
