Tanzania: How ‘Albino’ joke ended in killing of a Form Two student

Mirerani. A sheer joke by two students ended disastrously during the New Year eve when one of them ran berserk and killed the other with a machete.

Police in Manyara Region have arrested George Damas (15) over allegations of killing a Form Two student at Naisinyai Secondary School, Godfrey Otieno (16), after the latter ‘threw a joke’ that the former is ‘an albino’.

The two had been friends and neighbors before the incident occurred.

During the fateful day, George – who does not have albinisms - and Godfrey were together during the New Year eve, when while joking, the latter called the former ‘an albino’.

This irritated George who turned berserk. He then picked a machete and ran it into Godfrey’s head. Godfrey died while he was being taken to the hospital.

    The Manyara Regional Police Commander, Mr Agostino Senga confirmed the incident.

“The information we have is that George rushed into his house and picked a machete as soon as the deceased had joked about him (George) being an albino. He hit Godfrey with the machete in the head. Unfortunately, he (Godfrey) died as he was being taken to Mirerani Health Centre for treatment,” said Mr Senga.

Police were still investigating the matter before the accused is taken to court (apparently, Juvenile Court).