Ms
Ntetema has been censured locally over a perceived ‘safe house’ where
three people with albinism have been living in recent months.
The
Coast Region security committee has resolved to have them relocated
from the house, saying it was not safe for their upkeep and protection.
One of the three albinos was reportedly missing.
Regional
Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo ordered that the remaining duo be taken to
a much safer place than their current residence in Mbezi-Mlungwana
village in Mukuranga district following his visit to the site.
According
to Mr Ndikilo, he was informed that the original trio were taken from
Tabora under the auspices of Under The Same Sun - the organisation that
campaigns for the protection and other human needs of the albino
community in Tanzania. Ms Ntetema is the director of the organisation
and was instrumental in its establishment in the country to campaign
against acts of violence targeting albinos who have been hunted and
killed in the country over the years for withcraft purposes.
Her work, including an under-cover investigation that exposed an
extensive network of people behind the albino killings, has won her
local and international accolades as a committed activist who
passionately campaigned against the repugnant practice perpetuated by
beliefs that albino body parts could bring riches and other worldly
tidings.
Ms
Ntetema is currently touring the US courtesy of her naming in the list
of 100 women from around the world who were recognised for their work
for humanity. She received her award on Tuesday and met with US
Secretary of State John Kerry. Ms Ntetema is a former longserving BBC
Journalist and was among three Africans in the list of awardees.
The
Mkuranga story could therefore not have come at a worst time, with the
RC accusing Under The Same Sun for exposing the very people it was
supposed to protect. He claimed the three albinos taken to the Pazuo
Ward village in 2014 had been abandoned without much care for their
safety and livelihood.
Mr
Ndikilo noted that the house they were living in is 30 kilometres from
Kimanzichana, the nearest towhship. “We learnt about their presence
after getting information that a person with albinism called Said
Abdalah had gone missing,” he said soon after his visit to the area. He
said the place was surrounded with bushes and was far from other
villager’s homes.
Samwel
Masaga, one of the remaining two, told the RC that Abdalah left home on
January 31 this year saying he was going to buy his basic needs but he
never returned home until the committee visited them. It was not
immediately established if the three were related.
Mbezi
Mlungwana village chairman Hassan Kafeni said they were aware of the
presence of the persons with albinism since 2014, noting that they were
the second batch after the previous one stayed there and left.
Coast
Regional Police Commander Bonaventura Mushongi said police were still
searching for the missing person. He called upon the residents to
protect people living with albinism as they had also the right to live.
Ms Ntetema could not be reached and an email sent to her had not been answered by the time of filing this report.
TheCitizenTZ
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