MALAWI: ECM Pledges Continued Support to People with Albinism
ECM Representatives and APAM Members during the meeting
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has assured people living with albinism of her full and continued support and protection of their lives, thereby condemning the killing of such persons as a grave violation of the sanctity of life which the Catholic Church promotes.
Speaking on behalf of ECM during a meeting with the Executive Board of the Association of People living with Albinism in Malawi (APAM), Archbishop of Lilongwe Most Rev. Tarsizio G. Ziyaye, stressed that the aim of the meeting was to create an opportunity for the Conference to assure all persons with albinism, through their Association of the Catholic Church’s commitment to protect and defend the sanctity of life.
The meeting between ECM and APAM was necessitated by the arrest of Rev. Fr. Thomas Muhosha, a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Zomba who was suspected of involvement in the killing of McDonald Masambuka, a person with albinism in Machinga District. In his remarks, Bishop of Zomba Rt. Rev. George Tambala, informed the meeting that the Catholic Church received the news with sadness and shock.
“As local ordinary of the diocese, the priests and the Catholic faithful, we received the news with devastation. Up to now, no one understands how and why Fr. Muhosha got involved into this matter”, said Bishop Tambala.
However, Bishop Tambala stated that it is the desire of the Catholic Church in Malawi to see that due processe of the law is followed and that the truth about the matter is established.
This has been the call of the Church as indicated in separate statements issued by the Diocese of Zomba, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and the ECM released soon after the arrest of Fr. Muhosha, in which the police officers were urged to thoroughly investigate the matter and that the Church is ready to offer any support they might need to effectively do their work.
Responding to the Catholic Bishops’ assurance, the National Coordinator of APAM, Mr. Boniface Massah commended the ECM for organizing such a meeting. He however, requested the ECM to ensure that CCJP takes necessary steps in making sure that the issue is handled with the justice it deserves aware of high levels of corruption in matters like these, where in the presence of overwhelming evidence, justice fails to take its course.
Citing the project in Machinga which is being implemented by CCJP whose main objective is to improve the lives of persons with albinism and another one in Dedza on popularization of the Anatomy Act, APAM President, Mr. Overton Kondowe said such programmes would ensure that the rights of people with albinism are enjoyed by everyone. However, he stated that all along, he has considered the Church as a strong advocate in the defense of human life; it was very shocking to hear that high profile people such as a policeman and a priest were linked to the killing of McDonald Masambuka. He, then, asked ECM to support APAM’s efforts in ensuring that corruption does not derail the prosecution of the case.
Meanwhile, His Worship Rev. Peter Kandulu, the Board Chairperson of APAM assured the members present that the case involving Fr. Muhosha, an individual could not be generalized to the entire Catholic Church. Rev. Kandulu said that the Church has always been and still remains the advocate and defender of human life.
He then requested ECM to support the Masambuka family, to consider coming up with a team of independent co-investigators and co-prosecutors to support both the police and the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, hold frequent meetings to discuss issues affecting the lives of people with albinism, and apart from highlighting their issues in pastoral letters, to talk about these issues from time to time.
The Bishops concluded by assuring the members of APAM that the Church is committed to ensuring that their requests are adequately attended to.
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By: Stella Zulu, ECM
