2 albinos murdered, mutilated

2008-10-02 12:15

Bujumbura - Two albinos were murdered and cut into pieces in Burundi by attackers suspected of seeking to sell the body parts in Tanzania where witch doctors use them for lucky potions, officials said on Thursday.

The grisly murders have caused panic among the small central African country's albino community, forcing the authorities to gather them in a few protected areas.

Daniel Nzeyimana was attacked on Wednesday by gunmen armed with rifles at his home in Bweru, a town in the eastern province of Ruyigi, local governor Moise Bucumi said.

"They decapitated him, cut off his arms and legs and made away with the parts," he said.

In the same province, a 16-year-old girl was killed in a similar incident on September 22. "She was murdered, and again they cut off her arms and legs and took them away," the governor said.

"According to the investigation's preliminary findings, these crimes are connected to witchcraft... The locals claim these people go to Tanzania to sell these albino arms and legs, where they will be used to make charms and potions," Bucumi said.

"The albinos are terrified. We have decided to gather them in small groups and around a dozen have already found refuge in a municipal facility in Bweru, where their security is ensured," he said.

The governor of Ruyigi also said that an awareness campaign would be launched to combat the trade in body parts and belief in witchcraft.

Tanzania has been plagued by a series of attacks targeting albinos, spurring the government into launching nationwide awareness and protection programmes.

An albino was appointed to parliament earlier this year to defend the community's rights in the east African country, where President Jakaya Kikwete said at least 19 murders had been reported over the past year.

- SAPA