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Albinos too are human

Aug 18, 2010, 12:44 PM

The recent attack, killing and selling of the parts of an albino in the East of Africa is not uncommon, and is becoming a good business for those greedy human beings who will not hesitate to go to any extent in getting money or rich overnight.

Recently, the police in Tanzania said they arrested a Kenyan national who was attempting to sell an albino man.

The arrest was made in a sting operation as police pretended to be businessmen buying albino body parts. Police said they struck a deal equivalent to more than $250,000 (£159,000) for the 20-year-old man.

Albino body parts are prized in parts of Africa, with witchdoctors claiming they have special powers.

The Tanzanian government has promised to take action.

To those people who are hell bent on making money, they should always have it at the back of their minds that such people too are human beings.

As such, it is not right for anyone to cut their body parts, more so, to take their life for the purpose of some devilish rituals.

Is it not strange that over the last three years more than 50 albino adults and children have been killed, just for nothing but to get money out of spilling their blood?

According to the Tanzanian police, a 28-year-old Kenyan man, Nathan Mutei, was arrested just outside the town of Mwanza, as he attempted to sell an albino man.

Mr. Mutei is due in court on Wednesday accused of human trafficking.

In Tanzania, the body parts of people living with albinism are used by witch doctors for potions, which they tell clients will help make them rich or healthy.

However, whilst the number of albino killings has fallen, fear is still strong as African albinos are also under threat from skin cancer.

And it is for this reason that they rarely live beyond the age of 40, a situation that must be looked into by our health experts.