The Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA), has stepped in to support both the victim and the judicial process following threats made against a 10-year-old boy with albinism in Bwiti Township, Lilongwe.
According to MACODA, a 21-year-old man was arrested on August 14, 2024 after he was allegedly overheard telling peers that “chopping off the arm of the young boy would earn him millions of Kwacha.”
In response, MACODA says it has rolled out 3 key actions.
First, the Council is closely monitoring the judicial process to ensure the case proceeds to its logical conclusion following the arrest of the suspect.
Second, MACODA will provide technical and rights-based support to the State’s legal team. The Council will help the court understand the intersection of disability rights and criminal law to ensure the law is applied to its fullest extent.
Third, MACODA will provide victim support by offering the 10-year-old boy and his family the necessary psycho-social support during this traumatic period.
MACODA has condemned the remarks, saying they violate the Constitution and the Persons with Disabilities Act which prohibits inhumane and degrading treatment of persons with disabilities.
The Council has also commended the Malawi Police Service for the swift response in apprehending the suspect.
MACODA has further reiterated zero tolerance for any form of attack or discrimination towards persons with albinism in Malawi.
