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Tanzanian Court Passes Death Sentence On Four For Killing Woman With Albinism, As Wave Of Albino-Targeted Violence Hits The Country

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By Chris Nomjov

A Tanzanian court in the northwestern region of Geita has sentenced four people to death by hanging after they were convicted of killing a woman with albinism.

The prosecution told the court on Friday in Gieta that the victim died after the accused people chopped off both her legs and her right arm on March 11, 2008.

Judge Joacquine Demello said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused people had indeed killed the woman with albinism.

The judgment was delivered a few days following reports of a fresh wave of killings of albinos.

Meanwhile, police in Tanzania said on Friday they had arrested 32 witch-doctors this week as part of a campaign against ritual killings of albinos.

Activists say attackers have killed at least 75 albinos in the east African country since 2000 to use their limbs and other body parts as charms meant to guarantee success in love, life and business.

President Jakaya Kikwete last week vowed to stamp out the practice he said brought shame on to the east African country, and albino campaigners called on authorities on Friday to execute people convicted of the murders. President Kikwete expressed shock over the fresh wave of killings of albinos.

He said the barbaric cruelty, which had also given Tanzania a bad image, would not be tolerated. Kikwete called for immediate arrest and charging of perpetrators of such brutal killings.

He said his government had relentlessly worked round the clock to prevent the crime ever since he assumed the presidency in 2005.

The killings of albinos, which were often motivated by the use of body parts for ritual purposes, have claimed the lives of at least 75 people and 56 others have been injured in Tanzania since 2000.

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