Albinism attacks addressed ahead of poll

Amnesty International hasurged Malawi to tackle impunity for attacks on people with albinism. 'Malawi's elections will take place in the context of long-standing criminal justice failures and widespread impunity for the killing of people with albinism,' the organisation noted. A report on the IoL site notes that regional director Deprose Muchena said people with albinism continued to live in fear of being killed or abducted for their body parts. 'As Malawians go to the polls, it is time for the country to break with years of impunity for the killings and mutilation of people with albinism. Atrocities remain unresolved owing to criminal justice failures and ineffective criminal investigations,' he said. The report notes that the vast majority of cases involving crimes against people with albinism do not go before a court because of a lack of funds and legal aid support for suspected perpetrators.

Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director-General Godfrey Itaye is allegedly planning to block phone and Internet connections during Tuesday's national election. The Nyasa Times reports that the authority will use the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act to force mobile phone companies to shutdown social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and even phone calls. Itaye has denied the claims, saying ‘Macra has never done that and it is only security agencies that can do it using the cyber law that exists’. The report notes that authorities in the DRC shut down Internet connections following December’s poll. A report on the EWN site notes that President Peter Mutharika faces challenges from several candidates, including Deputy President Saulos Chilima, who last year quit the governing Democratic Progressive Party to form a new party, the United Transformation Movement.