22-year-old Zawadi Mangidu was killed in 2008 in the northwestern town of Geita.
Among the convicted killers was Charles Nassoro, the husband of the murdered woman. According to Court officials in Tanzania, the attackers hacked off the victim’s legs and right hand with an axe and machete while the woman was eating dinner in her village.
Some Tanzanian people superstitiously believe that to bring good luck and wealth it is necessary to make a magic ritual during which the flesh of an albino is mixed with special herbs and sea water.
At least 75 people have been killed since 2000 as a result of this outlandish belief. The price for the albino parts at the black market is about $600, while an entire corpse costs $75,000.
Despite a moratorium in Tanzania on the death penalty over the past 20 years, the court's ruling has placed doubts on the practicality of the verdict. The last execution was carried out in 1994.
According to reports, 17 other people are on death row for killing albinos.
Earlier this week, Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete called the killing embarrassing and disgraceful for the country, promising to put an end to the atrocities.
"The government has long tried to do everything possible to stop the killings, we are very serious with this. But we still need to enhance our efforts to bring to an end these killings, which are disgusting and a big embarrassment to the nation," the President said.
“It is a false belief that if someone has the body part of a person with albinism, this will bring success in business, fishing and mining activities. This is what has been fuelling this ongoing evil,” he added.
Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which partially or completely disrupts the production of melanin in the body. It causes the total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes.
Currently, there are 200,000 albinos living in Tanzania.
