People With Albinism Plan Demo

The National Chairman of the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS), Mr Ernest Kimaya.

People living with albinism yesterday announced their intention to demonstrate peacefully next month to push the government to intensify the crackdown on criminals who abduct and kill innocent people whose only 'fault' is being melanin deficient.

The National Chairman of the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS), Mr Ernest Kimaya, said the demonstrations, planned for March 2, are a response by the albinism-affected following the inhuman treatment meted on them spawning over a decade.

He noted with concern that some 76 people with albinism have been killed between 2005/2006 and this year; appealing for concentrated efforts to tackle the vice.

"We are now arranging the peaceful rally in which we would also like to meet President Jakaya Kikwete to tell him the ordeal that people with albinism go through," Mr Kimaya said on the sidelines of a meeting between political parties and organisations of people with disabilities.

Mr Kimaya said TAS would engage representatives from political parties, religious leaders as well as civil society organisations.

The event will include special prayers for the victims of albino killings. Some participants at the meeting linked the recurring abductions and killings to politics, noting that such incidences are usually on the rise when elections are approaching.

The Chairman of Tanzania Federation of Disabled People's Organisations, Mr Amon Mpanju, urged political parties to use their influence in the society to address and condemn the killings. "We are witnessing these incidents when the country is preparing for elections this year; it is my hope that the parties can play a role to curb the problem," Mr Mpanju noted.

On his part, the National Chairman of AFP, Mr Said Soud, said the society should be educated that wealth or leadership positions cannot be attained through human sacrifices of people with albinism.

"The killings happening in our society are a curse that will haunt our country; I call upon my fellow politicians to speak out against these killings. Existing legislations must be used to punish all those found to be guilty," he observed. During the past two months, the country has witnessed two abductions of young children in the Lake Zone.

They include Yohana Bahati (1) who was kidnapped last Sunday and her body recovered mutilated on Tuesday in Geita Region, as well as Pendo Emmanuel (4) who was kidnapped in December and is still missing. The body of baby Yohana was found mutilated in Shilabela Mapinduzi Sub-Village, a few kilometres from her home in Ilelema.

The infant was abducted on Sunday by unknown assailants when her mother was preparing supper in Ilelema village, Chato District. Meanwhile, political parties in the country were yesterday urged to accommodate the rights and interests of people with disabilities when drafting their manifestos ahead of the general election in October.

The call was made during a meeting convened by the Tanzania Federation of Disabled People's Organisations and attended by leaders of political parties to sensitise the parties to include them in democratic processes.

The foundation had formed a task force, which compiled a wish list in which they want political parties to implement during and after the elections. Presenting the proposals, a member of the task force, Mr Kaganzi Rutachwamagyo, said the parties ought to sensitise disabled people to register in the Permanent Voters' Registrar (PVR), ahead of the Referendum and General Election.

The parties should also indicate in their manifestos how they will protect people with disabilities and to ensure all resources are shared equally. The Chairman of the federation, Mr Amon Mpanju, suggested that presidential aspirants to be appointed by their respective parties to move around with interpreters to enable those with hearing impairment to get the message.

"Since presidential candidates move all around the country, it is ideal they are accompanied by interpreters to pass on the messages to people who cannot hear.

They should also have interpreters for reports to be televised," Mr Mpanju stressed. He challenged the political party Such efforts include appointing people with disabilities in leadership positions to enable them provide solutions to challenges faced by the group," Mr Shisha observed. He assured participants at the meeting that the pleas of the disabled will be considered in the CCM manifesto, which is currently being dratted.