Malawi24 special report: DPP knows something on the murder of albinos

A section of Malawians has expressed thoughts that Politicians from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party might be the force behind the violence targeted at people with albinism.

The comments have come following the comments made by the party’s regional director for the South Charles Mchacha and the Secretary General Ecklen Kudomtoni at a rally that was addressed by President Peter Mutharika at Limbuli in Mulanje.

Speaking at the rally, the two DPP big wigs took time to deride Member of Parliament for Mulanje South Bon Kalindo alias Winiko for taking to the street to protest against the murder of people with albinism and also to pressure Parliament to take decisive action on the violence.

Mchacha and Kudomtoni dismissed Kalindo’s protest and distanced themselves from what can pass as the welcome development saying the DPP was not involved in the protest despite the leader of the protest being an MP of the party.

Powerful politicians are involved

In an earlier interview with a local radio station, Kalindo had hinted that there were some high profile people involved in the murdering of people with albinism.

“It appears there are some important people involved in these killings and that is why the people are angry that I will protest and are afraid of the death penalty,” said Kalindo.

His remarks appeared to be in line with the remarks that UN special expert on the rights of people with albinism, Ekponesa Ero, made after she visited Malawi.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ero had hinted that the rise in the violence against people with albinism could be related to the fact that it had been an election year in most African countries.

Ero had hinted that it could be possible that some witchdoctors were advising politicians that bones of people with albinism would give them luck in elections and thus the increase in the attacks.

Malawians commenting on a story published by Malawi24 that the DPP was distancing itself from the protest that was led by its MP against the killing of people with albinism indicated that the comment by the party was itself an admission of guilt.

“By these remarks, it clearly shows that the DPP government knows very well the whole plot of albino (sic) killings but watch out your days are numbered,” posted a reader of Malawi24.

“Totally the DPP government knows about the killing of people with albinism, Winiko was never wrong anyhow,” another reader weighed in on the issue.

“We knew that big wigs of DPP know something on this (the killing of people with albinism), now they are coming out,” another reader added.

“This just shows that on the killings of people with albinism, the DPP government knows of something,” a comment read on the post.

DPP cadets now bay for the blood of Winiko

The plot has further been complicated with reports that the MP for Mulanje South Bon Kalindo was chased yesterday at the same rally where the important people in the party were ridiculing him for the good cause he did to support the protection of people with albinism.

According to reports, DPP cadets yesterday threatened to deal with the MP at the rally which was in his home district saying he was acting against the interest of the party.

“I was approached by two youth leaders of the party who said they would deal with me,” Kalindo has been quoted as saying.

According to the reports, Kalindo had to be escorted from the venue of the rally by the Police who had also tipped him that his life was in danger. As we published, it was reported that Kalindo was I hiding from his own political party.

This has further fuelled the speculation that the ruling party knows of something on the issue.

A history of violence

The ruling DPP is not new to the world of violence and killings. The well-known cases are the murder of protestors in cold blood on 20 July, 2011 and also the death of Robert Chasowa who was a student at the Polytechnic whose death has been linked to the ruling party.

Youth members of the party known as the cadets have also been known to be panga wielding in an effort to intimidate opponents and people they do not like.

The party has ever been accused of setting offices on fire .

A social commentator, Felix Unyolo said the history of the DPP and the comments of the party leadership can really make them a target of the accusations.

“It was really wrong of the party to comment in public about that and even threaten violence against Kalindo, this makes them an easy target,” he said.

However Unyolo urged Malawians to exercise caution in making the accusation.

“This is a very serious issue that deserves support from all quarters, accusing the DPP might just breed suspicions and hatred and leave the culprits off the hook,” he said.