Witchdoctors Rounded Up In Tanzania Crackdown

More than 200 unlicenced traditional healers and soothsayers have been arrested in Tanzania over the attacks and killings of albinos.

Albinism is caused by a complete lack of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes which, because of inbreeding in some areas, affects one in 1,400 Tanzanians, as opposed to one person in 20,000 in the West.

Body parts from an albino person are highly desirable for witchcraft purposes.

The arrests were carried out as part of a special operation in parts of the east Africa country - further operations are planned for all 30 regions.

They followed condemnation from President Jakaya Kikwete who described continuing attacks on people with albinism as "disgusting and a big embarrassment for the nation".

A police spokesperson said: "Some of those arrested were found in possession of items like lizard skin, warthog teeth, ostrich eggs, monkey tails, bird claws, mule tails and lion skin."

He said the police operation is targeting gangsters, traders and witchdoctors.

UN figures say at least 76 albinos have been killed since 2000 with a further 34 surviving after having parts of their body hacked off.

At least 15 more have been dug up from graves.

Dismembered body parts sell for around $600 (£400) and entire bodies are worth up to $75,000 (£50,000).

Lack of education among some communities has led to a belief that the condition is either a divine punishment or bad luck and even that it could be a contagious disease.

But concurrent superstitions tell of body parts made into potions bringing good luck and wealth to users.

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