Press Articles (international) about AFZ & John Chiti
Africa's Shameful Acts of Racism - the Plight of Persons With Albinism (PIWA) in Africa
According to the Albinism Foundation of Zambia (AFZ), Executive Director John Chiti, more than 25,000 persons with albinism in Zambia are currently in need of sunscreen lotion.
In an interview with Africa Renewal, Ms. Ero, said that the albinism situation in Africa, "is a tragedy." She referred to the 7,000 to 10,000 people living with albinism in Malawi and thousands of others in Tanzania, Mozambique and other countries as "an endangered people", facing a "risk of extinction if nothing is done." Tanzanians call people living with albinism zeru, zeru, meaning "ghosts."
Campaign to end albino killings
The Albino Foundation of Zambia (AFZ) has been campaigning for the equal treatment of people living with albinism and for an end to the misconception that their bodies could be used to gain wealth. John Chiti, Executive Director of AFZ, told DW that Zambian albinos are worried about their safety.
"We have people who hunt down persons with albinism for their body parts, which they believe can cure certain diseases and make money," Chiti said. He also said persons with albinism are living in fear and are not really enjoying their full human rights. "All the time they have to worry about who‘s behind them and many of them have lost their lives."
Campaign to end albino killings
The Albino Foundation of Zambia (AFZ) has been campaigning for the equal treatment of people living with albinism and for an end to the misconception that their bodies could be used to gain wealth. John Chiti, Executive Director of AFZ, told DW that Zambian albinos are worried about their safety.
"We have people who hunt down persons with albinism for their body parts, which they believe can cure certain diseases and make money," Chiti said. He also said persons with albinism are living in fear and are not really enjoying their full human rights. "All the time they have to worry about who‘s behind them and many of them have lost their lives."
Suspected Albino Murderers Arrested In Nyimba
On Thursday, 39-year-old Gift Tembo of Abraham village in
chief Ndake’s area was brutally murdered by unknown people at his house around 01:00 hours.
The attackers slit his throat and attempted to run away with his body but dumped it when the relatives of the deceased gave chase.
And Albino Foundation of Zambia president John Chiti said his
foundation would get in touch with the family of the deceased to see
the kind of support they could provide.
“It is always a sad moment when we hear such news. We are saddened by
the loss. What we are trying to do is to get in touch with the family and see what kind of support and anything else that can be done. We
strongly condemn such killings. We just appeal to the relevant
authorities to make sure that the culprits are brought to book,” he said.
Chiti also advised families with albinos to be careful because their
lives were at risk.
Chief Ndake calls for urgent meeting following killing of male albino
Bishop Mchombo said the church and other stakeholders should ensure that they bring about awareness on matters relating to albinos who were also created in the image of God.
And Chiti said his foundation would contact Tembo’s family to see the kind of support it could provide.
“It is always a sad moment when we hear such news, we are saddened by the loss. What we are trying to do is to get in touch with the family and see what kind of support and anything else that can be done. We strongly condemn such killings. We just appeal to the relevant authorities to make sure that the culprits are brought to book,” he said.
Chiti also advised families with albinos to be careful because their lives were at risk.
ALBINO Foundation of Zambia executive director John Chiti says increasing ritual killings and attacks on people living albinism have instilled fear in its members.
Mr Chiti said in an interview recently that Zambia records about 10 murder cases of people living with albinism annually.
ALBINO Foundation of Zambia executive director John Chiti says increasing ritual killings and attacks on people living albinism have instilled fear in its members.
Mr Chiti said in an interview recently that Zambia records about 10 murder cases of people living with albinism annually.
Unclaimed Albino Body Buried.
Members of the Albino Foundation of Zambia yesterday moved into Chipata and buried the body of an albino who found was dead on March 24, 2020 without some body parts.
This was after none of his family members came forward to claim the body. Foundation Director John Chiti led the team that buried their colleague at St. Anne’s Cemetery in Chipata.
Chiti said the grave was marked so that it can be easily identified by his relatives if they come forward in future. He warned that whoever was behind the gruesome murder will not be spared by the long arm of the law.
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