Johannesburg, South Africa (ADV) – The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in Malawi recently urged government and other stakeholders not to block Association of People with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) from holding vigils against government failure to protect people with albinism.
CCJP is an advocacy and governance arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM).
According to media reports, this year only at least six cases of attacks against persons with albinism have been recorded in the country.
“APAM is justified to hold vigils and demonstrations over attacks on persons with albinism in the country,” said CCJP National Coordinator Boniface Chibwana also expressing dismay over continued attacks and killings of people with albinism in Malawi.
“As CCJP we endorsing vigils planned by APAM in Malawi slated from 6th to 8th March this year over state failure to end the attacks and senseless killings. The government and other stakeholders must not to block APAM from holding vigils against government failure to protect people with albinism.”
Last week, APAM announced plans to hold vigils at State House in Lilongwe from the 6th to 9th March 2019 in the wake of the increase in attacks on the persons with albinism.
APAM disclosed that participants in the vigil will congregate at Lilongwe Community Centre Ground and thereafter march to Kamuzu Palace where they will deliver a petition to President Peter Mutharika.
After handing over the petition, the protesters will remain at Kamuzu Palace where they will hold a vigil for three days.
Persons with albinism have also been demanding that the government declare Malawi unsafe for them so that they should be free to seek asylum in other countries.
Meanwhile, the catholic institution also called for speedy investigations of cases involving people with albinism in the country. It also commended government for coming up with National Action Plan (NAP) on persons with albinism in Malawi.
Malawi has witnessed attacks and killings of persons with albinism over myths that their body parts break chains of poverty.
Graves of persons with albinism have been found tampered for bones that people suspect are used for charms.
© Bur-JHB – M.C – African Daily Voice (ADV) – Follow us on Twitter : @ADVinfo_eng
