AIbinos still live in fear in Nampula, Mozambique

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AIbinos still live in fear in Nampula, Mozambique

7:39 CAT | 15 Feb 2017

DW / Pedro Augusto, resident of Nampula

Albino trafficking has declined over the past two years in Mozambique’s northern province of Nampula, which previously recorded the highest incidence of albino abductions in the country.

Since the beginning of 2016, albinos in Nampula have been living in relative tranquillity. However, they say they are still not very comfortable. The Mozambican police have little to report, but say the situation is under control. The Attorney General’s Office points to a reduction of almost a half in the number of cases opened tried last year.

Pedro Augusto, 19, suffers from albinism. He confirms that albinos in urban centres have been living in relative peace lately, but fears that this is not the case in rural areas.

“Despite the reduction, we are still not sure if this is not just a lull. I am hearing that kidnapping still happens in rural areas, but the cases are not reported,” Pedro says.

Cases to be resolved

Beliefs that attribute magical powers to albinos fuel a black market in body parts.

Last year, 16 cases related to albino trafficking were registered in Nampula, compared to 32 in 2015, according to the chief prosecutor in Nampula province, Fernando. “We tried a total of six cases, and ten people were convicted,” he says.

According to Uache, community awareness campaigns and sentences of between 10 and 40 years contributed to the reduction.

Pedro Augusto is the brother of Auxílio César Augusto, an albino kidnapped in December 2014. The young man was seduced by strangers offered him work, his brother says.

“So far, we have not seen him again. We think he may no longer be alive. There were suspects in the case but they were only detained for a month and then released, and to this day the matter is still pending,” he said.

Pedro Augusto is disappointed with the police and judicial authorities for their tardiness in investigating the disappearance of his brother. “The case is in the PIC and the Prosecutor’s Office, but the police say there was enough evidence to keep the suspects in custody.”

Nampula police spokesman Zacarias Nacute acknowledges that some cases have not been clarified, but promised more actions, without giving specifics.

“More than 90 percent of the cases [registered since 2014] have been clarified, so it was not possible to clarify all the cases, but it is to be welcomed that most of the crimes were clarified by the Police of the Republic of Mozambique,” he said.

Despite the relative calm, the police and the PGR continue to call for all cases of attempted trafficking in human beings to be reported.

Source: Deutsche Welle