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Albinos in call for new law to safeguard their security
2008-05-06 10:08:36
By Correspondent Zuwena Shame
The Tanzania Albino Society (TAS) has called for enactment of a law to stem the current spate of albino killings. The association made the call at the weekend at a one-day meeting which was convened to discuss, among other things, life-threatening incidents and the wave of albino killings in the country, most of them linked to witchcraft.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam, TAS chairman Ernest Kimaya said the meeting also deliberated on the establishment of a union of albinos in Africa and discussed a draft of the TAS constitution.
He said albinos in Africa needed to forge closer ties with a view to successfully fighting against the ongoing killings and threats as one.
``I would like to call on my fellow albinos to become united in fighting for our rights,`` said Kimaya, calling for support from human rights organizations and civil society groups.
He said the killing of albinos and threats on their life were particularly rampant in Lake zone and coastal areas.
As part of efforts to curb the problem, authorities in Misungwi District, Mwanza Region, had placed 30 albino schoolchildren in a boarding school for their safety.
The TAS meeting drew participation from a number of African countries including Senegal, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa.
About 25 albinos were killed and five others cheated death during the past year alone. Tanzania has approximately 4000 albinos countrywide.
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