By: Ludorf Iyambo

Namibia albinism association trust (NAAT) leader Joseph Ndinomupya says that the two men (Fred Simasiku and Obrien Liwelu) who were arrested after asking a person living with albinism to sell them his hair must be punished harshly by the court.

Ndinomupya’s cry comes on the eve of the Simasiku and Liwelu appearing in the magistrate court on Wednesday, seeking bail.

NAAT is organising a demonstration from Single Quarter to Katutura magistrate court on the same day against granting bail to Fred Simasiku and Liwelu.

Ndinomupya said they want the two suspects to be castigated to set an example for other people trying to do the same dirty work. He further said they want the court to protect people living with albinism as they live in fear.

“We only used to hear this from other countries such as Malawi and Tanzania. We always hear that our albinism brothers and sisters are being killed in other countries, and their body parts are being cut off for ritual and some witchcraft practices,” said Ndinomupya.

During an interview with The Villager, Ndinomupya said people living with albinism in Namibia want to know who is behind such businesses and the kind of business they do.

According to him, the two men offered to buy the albino hair for N$1 million.

He added that their members want the judiciary to know that there are such people who buy the hair and toes of people living with albinism.

“We will be happy if the court denies the two men bail. We want the judiciary to be harsh on them until they reveal what they do with our body parts. We don’t want to live in a society with fear,” he said.

A member of the association, Hileni Mathew, said that the incident affected her and she is not comfortable being approached by unknown people.

Mathew narrated that her father told her to be careful with people out in the world when she was young.

She said the environment is not safe for people living with albinism anymore.

“I was approached by many men, telling me they would be lucky to get a job if they sleep with me. I don’t know what the future hold for us. This is so scary. Imagine now everyone is approaching you to be their girlfriend, but maybe they don’t love you, they want something from you. I feel like if I accept such a person’s proposal, they might cut off my nails or shave off my hair while I am sleeping,” said Mathew.

In partnership with the National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia, NAAT calls upon sympathisers to join them on Wednesday during the demonstration.

Simasiku and Liwelu were arrested on 18 February 2022 in Windhoek after approaching a person living with albinism and asking him to sell them his hair.

The unnamed person with albinism then reached out to the Namibia Albinism Association, tipping off the police about the offer.

The police then set up a sting operation that led to the men’s arrest.

Magistrate Dawid Mukuyu postponed the matter to 29 June 2022 for further investigation.