Six albino Malawians will run for office in 2019’s elections, first in a country where they are often kidnapped and killed, local media reported on Tuesday.

An albino is someone who is born with an absence of skin and hair pigmentation. This usually results in an albino having pale hair, eyes, and skin.

Some people who are considered to be albinos find the term offensive, although there are many different opinions about this in the community.

Albinos, who lack skin pigmentation, are often targets in Malawi due to superstitious belief that their body parts can be used in magic or as charms for people to get rich.

“Two albino candidates will run for parliamentary seats in 2019, while the other four will run as local councilors,’’ Overstone Kondowe, president of the Association of People with Albinism in Malawi told newsmen.

Kondowe said: “this is a positive step because, presently, we do not have representation in political leadership positions.’’

However, media reports said Kondowe has been lobbying the government to introduce stiffer punishment for perpetrators of attacks on albinos. (dpa/NAN)

– Jun. 26, 2018 @ 13:39 GMT |