With the exception of the controversies involving involving Christine O’Donnell and Sarah Palin, witchcraft has not been a persistent problem in this country’s elections. The same cannot be said for Tanzania. Indeed, the problem is so great that the government has released a warning to candidates in the October elections not to engage in witchcraft in an attempt to improve their odds. The warning is primarily meant to protect the country’s 30,000 albinos who are often murdered so that people can use their body parts in witchcraft.
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Pereira Silima said that “I want to assure my fellow politicians that there won’t be any parliamentary seat that will be won as a result of using albino body parts.”
There is a black market for black magic with witch doctors paying up to $75,000 for a full set of albino body parts. Some albinos, as we have perilously discussed, are disfigured after gangs cut off arms or feet to use on potions. The saddest aspect is that relatives will sometimes be culprits in the crime.
