Refusing to Accept a Mistake is Stupidity, Mr. Minister

On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, 14-year-old Goodson Makanjira because another statistic in the sad tale of abduction, maim and murder of people with albinism in Malawi. His case was the 161st in a series of attacks on people with albinism that have happened since 2015. Of these, 20 have been killed. Because his case in court now, we include it in the 65 that are either under investigation or in court. Another 96 cases remain unresolved. These are alarming figures of targeted killings in a country that touts itself as the Warm Heart of Africa. So when one Nicholas Dausi, the minister of homeland security, said the suspected ritual killings have not reached alarming levels for our brothers and sisters with albinism to think of seeking asylum in safer countries, it was no surprise that he stirred the hornets’ nest. Surely the minister should have known that a loss of one life is a loss of too many. Probably, he has no relation with albinism or he is ignorant that his ministerial position entails providing security to all Malawians regardless of race, colour or creed. Indeed, as the Association of People with Albinism in Malawi has put it, his remarks were insensitive and shameful, not befitting a minister. Mr. Dausi should have known that the international law on asylum and refugees, to which Malawi is a signatory, provides that any person has the right to seek asylum in another country if they feel their state can no longer provide them with safety and security. Being a homeland security minister, he needed to know this law, otherwise we have no guarantee he could approve asylum of citizens from other countries should they seek asylum in Malawi for various forms of persecution in their home countries. If the attacks were not serious, the U.S government should not have told Zodiak it was ready to offer refuge status to Malawians with albinism as long as they follow the necessary procedures ascribed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Public Affairs Officer for the U.S Embassy to Malawi, Douglas Johnston, says his government could resettle the victimized people with albinism just like it does with any other person who has experienced persecution or fear persecution in their home countries. Mister minister, if the attacks were not that serious, the international relations committee of the Malawi Parliament and Amnesty International should not have thrown their weight behind the suggestion for asylum. Mr. Dausi, you have one option: swallow your pride and apologise. It is that simple. After all, to err is human and apologizing is not stupidity. But refusing to accept a mistake is stupidity, in my view. Lule should have been let to live At the centre of the abduction of Goodson was one Buleya Lule, a Lilongwe based businessman. The man is now dead, and we may know the truth of what happened on the fateful day, if indeed he was involved. Buleya denied any involvement. He died as suspect, but it is incriminating that two men who confirmed abducting Goodson alleged in court they handed the young boy to Buleya. The case has only started, so I am surely positive that something would have come out of this man regarding the motive of the abduction of Goodson which, by and large, would have given us clues as to who is behind this heinous attacks on people with albinism. The sudden death, in police custody, of the key suspect in the abduction of the Dedza boy has ignited suspicions he may have been intentionally killed. I agree. Lule, was seen fit at court in Lilongwe the previous day only to be announced dead on Thursday. His body had scary wounds over the buttocks. His sister, Annie Lule, who has medical training, claims she saw suspicious blood clots in the lungs and brain of the deceased when his body was ripped open for a postmortem. According to her, these are not signs of a person who might have died high blood pressure but apparent assault. My conclusion is that the police severely beat him up – either in a bid to extract information from him, or even worse, to kill him and cover up evidence. Now that the family has requested for a forensic autopsy and the Association of People with Albinism in Malawi (Apam) obtained an injunction against the burial of Lule until the autopsy is done, we have a sigh of relieve someone will be held accountable for concealing evidence. The demos should go ahead I would like to hail the Apam for stating that they will not relent on their planned demonstrations and vigil at Kamuzu Palace, the residence of President Peter Mutharika. No police should dare disperse the protestors because doing so would only indicate the luck of seriousness by government in ending the attacks. The vigil is not a lasting solution, but it will help force President Mutharika to act with urgency in stopping the continued attacks of people with albinism. As we have seen in the case of Buleya, the repercussion of any attempt to quell the Apam vigil will be far disastrous. Police, let the voice of the oppressed be heard. ..... This article first appeared on https://zodiakmalawi.com/component/k2/refusing-to-accept-a-mistake-is-stupidity-mr-minister and the minister later apologised.