Human-rights hero of the year? Relatively early into 2008, Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete has got to be considered an early favorite for his courageous moves in helping the plight of his country's albino population against local witch doctors.

No, really. Kikwete devoted time in his monthly televised address to the nation to addressing the apparently epidemic-level murder rate of the albino population in Tanzania. Said Kikwete: "I am told that people kill albinos and chop their body parts, including fingers, believing they can get rich when mining or fishing. This is senseless cruelty. It must stop forthwith."

Over the past twelve months, some 19 albinos have been murdered and at least two have disappeared without trace. Police estimate that another 20 or so may have been killed in unreported incidents. Cases of exhuming the recently buried bodies of children in order to remove extremities for use in witch doctors' rituals have also been recorded.

About one week later, Kikwete appointed Al-Shaymaa Kwegyr to Parliament as one of the body's 323 sitting members. Kwegyr is the first ever albino to become a parliamentarian in Tanzania, and represents part of the effort "to protect albinos from being targeted by witch-doctors."

An estimated 270,000 of Tanzania's 39 million citizens have albinism. In his address, Kikwete ordered all albinos to register themselves so as to "improve their safety."