Monday 9 March 2015

Tanzania albinos: 32 witchdoctors held in anti-murder drive

Albino boys in Tanzania

Tanzanian police have arrested 32 witchdoctors in the north-western Geita region as part of efforts to halt the killings of albinos.
On Thursday, four people were sentenced to death for the 2008 murder of an albino woman in the same area.
The government outlawed witchdoctors in January as part of a campaign to halt the killings.
Witchdoctors believe the body parts of albinos have special powers, bringing success and good luck.
Tanzania has seen 75 albino related murders since 2000, campaigners say.
Geita police chief Joseph Konyo told the BBC that "the witch doctors were arrested in possession of different items, including potions and oil from an unknown source".
He did not say whether they had been charged, or caught with anything relating to albinos. Albinism is a condition that affects the production of skin pigment.
A few weeks ago the body of a murdered one-year-old boy was found with his limbs hacked off in the same region.

Source: BBC

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