HIV-positive men raping women with albinism 'to get cured'

The Zimbabwe Albino Association (Zimas) has alleged that superstitious Zimbabwean men infected with HIV are raping women with albinism, believing that this will be cured of the virus.

According to a report published in Sunday News, quoting Zimas director Mercy Chimanga, 20 women with albinism revealed that they had been rape after their health seriously deteriorated.

The report quoted Chimanga as linking this abuse with ‘HIV curing’ myths based on the women's testimonies. Sixty per cent of Zimbabweans with albinism live in rural areas, making them susceptible to HIV and skin cancer.

Albinism is a group of genetic disorders that cause the skin, hair or eyes to have little or no colour. Over 17 000 Zimbabweans have some form of albinism, according to Zimas, the report stated.
 

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