Chancellor College (Chanco) President for Chewa Society, Justice Banda has lamented the way the Police and the Media are handling Albinism killings. Banda was reacting to Police’s allegation that they have discovered that the market for albinism parts is not in Mozambique as earlier reported but right here in Malawi.
“They were not supposed to make such information public, in doing so they just make those doing this heinous business more aware now and refine their tactics. Such people would now go more underground,” complained Banda.
“The Police are simply helping those people doing this to be more aware of their investigations. Were they not supposed to use that information to penetrate the market than revealing it?” wondered Banda.
Justice Banda, a second year law student has however praised the Police for arresting those making jokes on persons with albinism.
“Certainly the Police are right in arresting such people, making those evil jokes just show that they have no sympathy to what is happening towards people with albinism. Anyone who looks at a person with albinism as money is definitely a potential killer who if given a chance can kill” stated Banda.
Banda has also appealed to the media to be sensitive when quoting the prices.
“Without empirical evidence let us not just speculate wildly. What the Police and the media are doing is like extinguishing fire using paraffin. The prices we are quoting for albinism parts are an exaggeration and such prices are just flaming the desire in some people. May the Police and the media stop mentioning these speculative prices; they are bringing curiosity in some people than discouragement. It is ridiculous to say that the whole body of a person can cost as much as K50 million, what message are you sending to the public here? There are some people out there who will only look at these exaggerated prices and be convinced that it is real” argued Banda.
His society has condemned the killings and Banda has appealed to the Police to use all the tactics to penetrate the witchdoctors who are doing this.
“What is not making sense is that the foot soldiers are arrested yet those who send them are still at large. Once you arrest a messenger it is simple for him to point to the next person who gave him the message, why is this not happening?” queried Banda. The Society is currently engaging with other organisations at Chancellor College to arrange for a march within Zomba City against the killings. The march which was organised by the Disability clinic failed to take place on Friday as some students were busy writing examinations.