Tanzania's first elected albino
MP fears for life
Salum Khalfan Barwany says he may fall victim to albino hunters seeking blood and body parts for witchcraft
Tanzania's first elected albino member of parliament fears his life could be in danger in the east African country where albino hunters kill their victims and use their blood and body parts for witchcraft.
Salum Khalfan Barwany said he may be threatened by an unknown group that has been tracking his movements since he was elected MP for the Lindi Urban constituency in southern Tanzania on 31 October.
"We have received information from good samaritans that a group of five people, some of them with military training, has been secretly pursuing me since I was elected MP," the legislator from the opposition Civic United Front party told Reuters. "I have reported this matter to the police in Dar es Salaam and I hope they will take the necessary action.
"I'm not sure what their motive is. It could be politically related, or it may be part of those gangs that have been hunting and killing albinos. There are several opposition candidates who won parliamentary seats, but why is this happening to me?"
Police said they had received reports the MP could be in danger. "We are investigating the matter. It has been officially reported to us and the MP himself came personally to the police to give us his statement," said the Temeke regional police commander, David Miseme.
At least 59 albinos have been killed since 2007 in Tanzania and their body parts sold for use in witchcraft, mainly in the remote north-western regions of Mwanza and Shinyanga, gold-mining regions where superstition is rife.
A Canada-based rights group said albinos were living in fear in Tanzania despite a slowdown in killings. "There has been a lull in the attacks in recent years, but persons with albinism are still not safe in Tanzania," said Vicky Ntetema, the executive director of Under the Same Sun.
"There is one case where the attackers went out of their way to give first aid treatment to a victim to stop the bleeding, so they could come back next time and harvest another limb," she said.
In November, Tanzania's high court sentenced four men to death for dismembering a 50-year-old albino man. In neighbouring Burundi, at least 11 albinos have been killed since last year. Thirteen people have been convicted for the deaths, including one who received a life sentence.
Albinos lack pigment in their skin, eyes and hair. There are about 170,000 albinos in Tanzania. Witch doctors tell their clients the body parts will bring them luck in love, life and business. The killings have sullied Tanzania's reputation for relative calm in the region and been condemned by the UN and the European Union.
Tanzania's president, Jakaya Kikwete, appointed an albino MP, Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir, in 2008, but Barwany is the first albino legislator to be elected.
From: www.guardian.co.uk
2 comments:
Jamani mbona kuna mama Albino alikua waziri au mbunge wa kuteuliwa sina uhakika mbona mnaleta habari ya kusema huyu ndio wa kwanza, tena niliona na cnn sasa nashangaa na wa tz wenzangu nao mnarudi hili hamjui kinachoendelea kwetu
Dadangu Sara,
Tanzania hatujawahi kuwa na waziri albino.
Soma aya ya mwisho ya taarifa hii:
"Tanzania's president, Jakaya Kikwete, appointed an albino MP, Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir, in 2008, but Barwany is the first albino legislator to be elected."
Salum Khalfan Barwani ni Mbunge wa kwanza wa kuchaguliwa na wananchi. Hawa jamaa wa the Guardian hawajakosea.
Al-Shaymaa Kwegyir alikuwa wa kwanza wa kuteuliwa. Aliteuliwa na Rais Kikwete.
Tunafuatilia sana mambo ya nyumbani.
Post a Comment