President Jakaya Kikwete has pointed out that, due to their sensitivity and the fact that human lives will be at stake, he is taking great precaution before inking any document to send convicts to the death chambers.
The President was speaking in Arusha last Saturday during the 10th World Albinos Day observed at National Level at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium here, in response to recent concerns that the culprits who are involved in horrid killings and maiming of people with albinism are either not punished by the state or their sentences take time to be executed.
“Unlike other crime issues, death cases are usually treated with ultimate care by the courts of law and a person will never be convicted until all angles have been dealt with and each party satisfied that indeed suspects were guilty beyond any reasonable doubt,” explained President Kikwete pointing out that in the past, a number of people faced death chambers only to turn out that they were never guilty in the first place.
Members of the public in a procession heading to the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium
during the World Albino Day observed in Arusha last Saturday.
Still, the head of state told the multitude that
gathered in the Stadium that so far nearly 140 people accused of
attacks on albinos have been apprehended, taken to courts of law and
already 15 of them have been sentenced.
“Thirteen of the convicts will be hanged to death, while the remaining two are to serve other sentences,” said Mr Kikwete, adding that two of those facing the death will be hanged soon. The rest of the suspects have been found not guilty.
Hand-in-hand with that, a total of 194 traditional medicine men were arrested in connection with inciting albino killings and so far 120 of them are being charged in courts of law. The state has also revoked various licences from traditional healers.
“Thirteen of the convicts will be hanged to death, while the remaining two are to serve other sentences,” said Mr Kikwete, adding that two of those facing the death will be hanged soon. The rest of the suspects have been found not guilty.
Hand-in-hand with that, a total of 194 traditional medicine men were arrested in connection with inciting albino killings and so far 120 of them are being charged in courts of law. The state has also revoked various licences from traditional healers.
Many of the killings targeting people with
albinism in Tanzania are fuelled by witchcraft rituals that the
president described as results of ‘stupidity, ignorance and laziness.
“There are albinos all over the world, the condition does not discriminate race, tribe or family inheritance, but it is a great shame to hear that, Tanzania is the only country in which people with albinism live in constant fear and danger,” he said.
The National Bureau of Statistics indicates that there are 750 people with albinism living in Arusha which is the only region where they happen to be safe.
The NBS which is the government agency dealing with official statistics has recorded that the total number of people with albinism in the country so far stands at 16,477 with the Dar-Es-salaam Region leading in having the highest population 1,637 while Unguja-South has the smallest number with just 33.
But the Tanzania Albino Society’s through their website claims that the total number of people with albinism in the country was beyond 150,000.
“There are albinos all over the world, the condition does not discriminate race, tribe or family inheritance, but it is a great shame to hear that, Tanzania is the only country in which people with albinism live in constant fear and danger,” he said.
The National Bureau of Statistics indicates that there are 750 people with albinism living in Arusha which is the only region where they happen to be safe.
The NBS which is the government agency dealing with official statistics has recorded that the total number of people with albinism in the country so far stands at 16,477 with the Dar-Es-salaam Region leading in having the highest population 1,637 while Unguja-South has the smallest number with just 33.
But the Tanzania Albino Society’s through their website claims that the total number of people with albinism in the country was beyond 150,000.
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