Eideard

Witch doctors teach that body parts
from albinos can bring luck and wealth.

A court sentenced four people to death in northern Tanzania for the killing of an albino man who was targeted for body parts believed to have special powers, authorities said Friday….

So far, seven people have been sentenced to death for the killing of more than 50 Tanzanian albinos, including children, in the past two years, Haule said. Dozens more are awaiting trial….

Body parts of albinos are sought in some regions of Tanzania and other African countries, where some believe they bring wealth and good luck. Attackers chop off limbs and pluck out organs, selling them to witch doctors.

Killings have gone up in the east African nation, which has an estimated 200,000 albinos, according to the Tanzania Albino Center.

“People believe that albino body parts mixed with traditional medicine can make people rich,” said Franck Alphonse, the center’s director. “It is a thriving business … witch doctors are asking business people to bring the body parts of albinos, who are not considered human beings….”

“We want to see justice done to everyone involved in the killings,” Alphonse said. “They (police) only pick those who slaughtered albinos, what about those who send these people to kill?”

Broken down to its elements, it’s all about religion superstition and greed, and a willingness to do anything, to anyone, to get whatever.