The Malawi Police Service has welcomed two officers with albinism into its ranks, the first people with the rare genetic pigment disorder in the Malawi state security organization. Human rights groups say the hiring should help efforts to crack down on attacks on albinos and restore trust in the police after some officers have been linked to such attacks.
Officers Hamid Vasco and Brenda Mhlanga graduated Friday after six months of training and were welcomed into the police department on Monday along with other new recruits.
Vasco, 25, said he decided to join the police to help end attacks on people with albinism in Malawi.
Statistics show that more than 170 albinos have been attacked or killed in Malawi since 2014 due to the false belief that concoctions mixed with their body parts bring luck and wealth.
“So this gave me the [opportunity] to apply to become a police officer so that I can work side-by-side with my colleagues on case-related matters and investigations into crimes related to the murder and abduction of people with albinism, ”Vasco said.
Human rights groups say hiring albino officers will help restore public confidence in the police after some officers have been linked to such attacks.
In June, the Blantyre High Court sentenced policeman Chikondi Chileka and four others to 30 years in prison to forced labor after convicting them of trading in human tissues. The body parts came from MacDonald Masambuka, a man with albinism who was murdered in 2018.
Vasco and Mhlanga are also the first people with the rare genetic pigment disorder to work in the Malawi state security organization.
Young Mahamba is the president of the Association of People with Albinism in Malawi or APAM.
He said there was a change in policy after his association and other activists lobbied for police to hire albinos.
“APAM as an organization, and all other stakeholders, we have argued that people understand albinism and know that albinism is not a limit. So we have seen a positive development. For example, we have seen a person with albinism. [for the first time] be a deputy. It shows that the attitude is changing and we will prepare, “Mhlanga said.
However, a representative of the Malawi Police Service, Peter Kalaya, said there have been no changes in the policy. He said the problem was that people with albinism weren’t applying for police work.
“There is no specific policy change because we have requirements that every person who wants to join the police service must meet. And these two managed to meet these requirements and even managed to successfully complete both physical and class training, “said Kalaya.
He said police do not expect any special contributions from Vasco and Mhlanga to combat attacks on albinos.
“Their coming will obviously add something because having them in service could be a message to those who commit these acts. For example, by sending a message to the attackers: ‘Okay, these people can also be police officers, they can also carry weapons. But in terms of efforts to investigate, prosecute or follow up on cases of attacks and murders of people with albinism, we have been able and still are able, “she said.
Kalaya encourages other people with albinism to apply for jobs in the police services, stating that the service does not discriminate against anyone in terms of skin pigment disorders.