LILONGWE, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malawi has strongly condemned the resurfacing killings of people with albinism in the country, describing it as retrogressive given the achievements made since 2014.
The UN made the condemnation in reaction to the recent brutal killing of a 22-year-old man, Macdonald Masambuka, who went missing early March and whose body was found buried in a shallow grave on April in the country's eastern district of Machinga.
In a statement dated April 4, UN Resident Coordinator in Malawi Maria Jose Torres described the act as retrogressive given the achievements the country had made since the fight against the act started in 2014.
"We encourage the authorities to ensure that a thorough, prompt and impartial investigation into the killing of this young man is made and that the alleged perpetrators are brought to justice," urged the UN Resident Coordinator in the statement.
She urged Malawi government and stakeholders to redouble their efforts to implement the National Action Plan which addresses the root causes of attacks on persons with albinism, including a nationwide awareness raising campaign.
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has so far arrested seven suspects in connection to Masambuka's murder and among the suspects are police officers and a medical practitioner.
"We are concerned that persons that were entrusted with the responsibility of promoting and protecting the life of all Malawians including persons with albinism are the ones allegedly suspected to have had a hand in the killing of Macdolnald," explains the UN Resident Coordinator.
Masambuka's incident brings to four the total number of attacks on persons with albinism in 2018 alone.
Currently the Association for Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) has also registered its concern on the latest development, saying capital punishment to the offenders could have helped to end the malpractice.
Since 2014, Malawi has registered at least 125 cases of attacks and killings of persons with albinism where at least 20 people were brutally killed.