The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in the Diocese of Zomba has urged communities to respect the rights of persons with albinism and to end discrimination against them, particularly in development activities.
Assistant Project Officer for CCJP, Rhoda Ng’ambi, made the call during an awareness meeting held at Gologota Primary School under Traditional Authority M’biza.
The initiative is part of a project titled “Enhancing Socio-Economic Rights of Persons with Albinism,” which is being implemented with support from the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF).
Ng’ambi said the outreach was organized in response to reports of mistreatment of persons with albinism in the area.
She noted that some individuals face verbal abuse and are called derogatory names such as “gold,” “money,” “napwere,” and “mzungu dala.”
She stressed that persons with albinism are equal members of society and that insulting or excluding them is a punishable offense.
Ng’ambi also called on traditional leaders and community safety structures to promote respect and ensure their protection.
“People with albinism are human beings like everyone else. Disrespecting or excluding them from development activities is unacceptable and against the law,” she said.
Jameson Tambula, a committee member representing persons with albinism in Zomba District, expressed appreciation to CCJP for the awareness campaign.
While he acknowledged that security in the area has improved, he said verbal abuse remains a concern and continues to put their lives at risk.
He further appealed to the government to strengthen legal protections for persons with albinism.
Group Village Headman Jumbe 1 also welcomed the initiative, saying it had helped raise awareness among community members.
He pledged to ensure that persons with albinism in his area are protected and treated with dignity.
