As election season descends upon Tanzania, a chilling wave of fear washes over individuals with albinism. While the nation anticipates political rallies and public discourse, for many like 42-year-old Mariam Staford, these events signal a return of terror. Mariam confesses, “The first thing that comes to me is fear… I know that killings of people with albinism happen especially at election time in Tanzania, when witchcraft beliefs intensify. That’s why I don’t take part in campaigns… I am so afraid.”
Albinism, a genetic condition affecting an estimated 30,000 Tanzanians, is tragically misunderstood. Superstition has made this community vulnerable, with the persistent, false belief that their body parts hold magical properties for wealth, luck, and political success fueling horrific attacks and killings.
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Mariam’s personal experience is a stark testament to this danger. In 2008, a particularly brutal year for people with albinism amidst election preparations, assailants broke into her home and brutally severed her right hand and then her left. She was found unconscious, her unborn child tragically lost due to the attack. Against all odds, Mariam survived, but the physical and emotional scars remain.
Seventeen years later, the trauma is still palpable. “Even now, I sometimes dream of that night,” Mariam shares. “When I wake up, I touch my arms and remember they are not there. It is something I will never escape.”
The scale of these attacks is devastating. Since 2008, organizations have recorded 211 incidents in Tanzania, including 79 killings, 100 mutilations where victims survived, and 27 desecrated graves. In 2008 alone, as many as 35 people with albinism were murdered.
Following widespread international condemnation, the Tanzanian government intensified efforts to combat these atrocities, leading to crackdowns and stricter laws. Public awareness campaigns and the construction of memorials, like the one in Sengerema town honoring victims, aim to foster understanding and empathy. Mariam’s name is etched on this monument, alongside other victims.
Despite these efforts, the threat persists. A recent incident in June saw a victim unharmed but relocated to a safe house, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has publicly denounced these harmful beliefs, emphasizing their unacceptability during elections.
Local officials, like Commissioner Senyi Ngaga, highlight the slow progress in eradicating these superstitions, especially in rural areas. “We recently held a festival with traditional healers where we sat together and talked,” she explained. “As the election approaches, we also advised them to be good ambassadors to tell others to reject such acts and ensure that people with albinism are protected.”
Mariam continues to live a life marked by caution, avoiding crowds and rarely venturing out alone. As the current election cycle begins, she plans to stay home, her skepticism about the impact of voting on her safety evident. For Mariam and many others, the fight for safety and acceptance remains an ongoing, often terrifying, struggle.