Tanzania authorities have issued a ban on witchdoctors as a means of stemming the surge of murders against albinos, whose body parts are sold for witching ceremonies.
“These so-called witches bear responsibility for the attacks against albinos,” said interior ministry spokesman Isaac Nantanga, Agence France-Presse reported.
The ban comes on the heels of a widely reported kidnapping of a 4-year-old girl by men carrying machetes. The men stole her from her home in Mwanza and police, so far, have arrested 15 — but she’s still missing, AFP said.
The ban also comes as officials find that 74 albinos have been murdered in the nation since 2000.
“We are keen on addressing the issue of abductions and killings of people with albinism once and for all,” said home affairs minister Mathias Chikawe, AFP reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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