Catholic priest among 12 convicted over Malawi albino murder

A Malawi Catholic priest, a policeman, and a clinic worker are amongst a dozen convicted over the 2018 grotesque homicide of a man with albinism, a court professional stated Friday.

Five out of the 12 have been found responsible for killing MacDonald Masambuka, 22, at the height of against the law spree that noticed over 40 murders and one hundred 45 attacks on people with the situation in the USA.

The priest, Masambuka’s brother, a policeman, and a sanatorium worker were convicted of transacting human body parts.

“MacDonald was betrayed by those he had trusted in, namely the brother, the priest, the policeman, and the clinical officer. These are positions of trust,” the country’s public prosecutions director Steve Kayuni told AFP.

In 2014 Malawi suffered a wave of assaults over several years against albinos whose body parts are used in witchcraft rituals in the mistaken belief that they bring wealth and luck.

In a judgment handed down Thursday, a high court concluded that the 12 plotted to kill Masambuka to extract his bones, hoping to benefit financially.

“This is a violation of the right to human life and the greatest violation of the rights to life and integrity for persons with albinism,” said judge Dorothy NyaKaunda Kamanga.

Masambuka was murdered after being enticed by means of his brother to satisfy his buddies who he claimed had discovered him a female to marry.

Sentencing has been set for May 31.

There are around 20 cases beneath prosecution in Malawi courts involving the homicide, attempted murder, exhumation, and promotion of frame tissue of human beings with albinism, stated Kayani.

Activist and former UN rapporteur on albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, said the latest case “points to a serious safety issue for people with albinism in Malawi”.