In brief
Every election season in Tanzania brings trauma and fear for people with albinism, as they often become targets of violent attacks motivated by harmful superstitions. Mariam Staford recounts her horrific experience of being attacked in 2008, revealing the persistent threats they face, despite some government efforts and increased awareness. The situation underscores the urgent need for continued vigilance and protection for this vulnerable group.
Fresh trauma arrives with every election season in Tanzania for 42-year-old Mariam Staford.
For most, the fiesta-like rallies and songs, along with the campaign messages, signal a chance for people to make their voice heard. But for those with albinism, they bring terror.
Warning: This article contains details of graphic violence that some people may find upsetting
The first thing that comes to me is fear, Mariam tells the BBC as people prepare to vote for a president and parliament. I know that killings of people with albinism happen especially at election time in Tanzania, when witchcraft beliefs intensify. That's why I don't take part in campaigns… I am so afraid.
Albinism, affecting an estimated 30,000 people in Tanzania, reduces melanin in skin, eyes, and hair. Superstitions make this population targets, with beliefs that their body parts can bring wealth or political success driving violence.
Activists say assaults intensify during elections as people vie for power. Mariam knows this danger first-hand. In 2008, as local elections were set to begin, she was attacked by men wielding machetes in her Kagera bedroom.
They came at a late hour of the night, cut off my right hand [from above the elbow] and took it away, and then they also cut off my left hand, she recalls. The next day I was taken to a dispensary, unconscious, and the doctor who saw me said: 'This person is already dead, take her back home and bury her.'
Despite surviving, Mariam lost her unborn child due to the injuries. The trauma continues to haunt her as she remembers her attack regularly.
Since 2008, there have been 211 recorded incidents of violence against people with albinism in Tanzania, resulting in numerous fatalities and mutilations. Awareness campaigns have emerged, but significant challenges remain as recent attacks remind communities of the ongoing dangers.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has denounced harmful traditional beliefs, pushing for protection and understanding in the face of discrimination. Yet despite some progress, Mariam remains skeptical about participating in elections, choosing to stay home instead.
