Villagers perform a dance in Kombeza area, central Malawi's Salima district, March 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun)

LILONGWE, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Malawi Members of Parliament have expressed concerns over the lack of protection and delay of justice in cases of violence against people with albinism in the country.

Parliamentarians on Friday quizzed ministers to explain why no case had been thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

Among the legislators who raised the matter was Bon Kalindo, who in 2016 led the naked demonstrations in protest of the attacks against albino patients. He bemoaned the government's laxity in bringing the atrocities to an end.

"We hear on radios that armed police and army officers are guarding our animals in the game reserves, but we do not hear anything on the same happening to our albino brothers and sisters who continue to be attacked and killed brutally," said Kalindo.

In response, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Cecilia Chazama, assured the parliamentarians that that a number of suspects had been arrested.

Chazama said investigations on a number of cases were at an advanced stage and that soon Malawians would see justice taking its course as those convicted would be brought to book.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Samuel Tembenu, also said discussions were underway with prosecutors to speed up cases on the attacks and killings of people with albinism.

Since 2013, people with albinism in Malawi have been living in fear following attacks and brutal killings for their body parts that some believe are essential for wealth-creating rituals.

At least 22 people with albinism, among them women and children, have been brutally killed in Malawi since 2013 while over 150 cases of attacks and murder attempts on albinistic patients have been reported to police.

The criminal acts were first reported in neighboring Tanzania before spilling over to Malawi where security agencies are yet to get down to the source of the ritual beliefs.