TANZANIA: ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY AMID ALBINO KILLINGS UNREALISTIC

November 25, 2008: the Tanzanian Government said that the proposal to abolish the death penalty has come at the wrong time because of the recent albino killings. Constitutional Affairs and Justice Minister Mathias Chikawe was responding to the question whether Tanzania had plans to abolish the death sentence in view of the fact that her neighbours had already done so.
“The issue of whether to or not to abolish it is sensitive as it calls for infomed public views. In big issues such as this one, you have to carry people with you but cannot simply sail alone,” Chikawe said.
“We have been collecting views from members of the public but the timing is wrong as normal people think the sentence should remain. Most of them are so disappointed by what is taking place with the albinos that they don`t want to hear anything about abolishing the penatly,” explained Chikawe. (Sources: IPP Media, 27/11/2008)