Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on July 23, 2024.
TTCL, UCSAF, and Tanzania Posts Corporation Bosses Dismissed
The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has dismissed top executives of various institutions under the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, whose positions are presidential appointments. This comes just two days after the dismissal of the responsible minister during a cabinet mini-reshuffle.
According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications at the State House, those dismissed include Zuhura Muro, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Tanzania Telecommunication Corporation Limited (TTCL), and Director General Peter Ulanga.
At Tanzania Posts Corporation, Retired Brigadier General Yohana Mabongo, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and Postmaster General Maharage Chande have been dismissed. Others dismissed are Prof. John Nkoma, Chairperson of the Board of Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF), and Justina Mashiba, UCSAF Chief Executive Officer.
However, the statement released by the State House did not provide reasons for their dismissal.
Four Police Officers and Militia in Court Accused of Murder
Four police officers, including the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of the Goziba Ward Police Station in Muleba District, Kagera Region, John Mweji, and three militia members known as mgambo, have been arraigned in court on charges of murdering a 20-year-old youth identified as Baraka Lucas.
The accused appeared before the Bukoba Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, with Resident Magistrate Janeth Masesa presiding. Apart from the OCS, the other accused were identified as Ahmad Rashid, Fransis Hayshi, Ally Jumanne, Emmanuel Massatu, Evodius Makaka, and Athumani Malindo, with three being police officers and three militia members.
Reading the charges in murder case number 18914 of 2024, State Attorney Agness Owino claimed that the accused committed the offense on June 9, 2024. The accused were not required to respond to the charges and were remanded because the court does not have jurisdiction to hear murder cases. The case was adjourned until August 6, 2024, for mention.
It is reported that the body of Lucas, 20, who was a fresh fish carrier at the Goziba Island landing site, was found floating in Lake Victoria on June 12, 2024, four days after he was reported to have been arrested by Goziba Ward police on June 9, 2024.
After his relatives received news of his arrest by officers patrolling late at night, they went to the station to verify his detention but were unsuccessful in seeing him. Subsequently, on June 12, 2024, his body was found floating along the shores of Lake Victoria.
This is the second recent case involving police officers accused of murder, following an ongoing case at the Mtwara High Court, where seven officers are charged with the intentional killing of a gemstone trader identified as Mussa Hamis at the Mitengo Police Station in Mtwara District on January 5, 2022, and subsequently dumping his body at Majengo Ward in Hiari.
Case Against IGP, Tanga RPC Adjourned as Assigned Judge Absent
The case filed at the High Court of Tanzania, Tanga Zone, by nine lawyers representing CHADEMA cadre Kombo Mbwana against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Camilius Wambura and Tanga Regional Police Commander (RPC) Almachius Mchunguzi, requesting the release and compensation of their client, was adjourned on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The adjournment was due to the absence of Judge Happiness Ndesamburo, who was supposed to preside over the case.
The case, filed by lawyers Peter Madeleka, Mpale Mpoki, John Seka, Boniface Mwabukusi, Paul Kisabo, Hekima Mwasipu, Daimu Halfani, Fulgence Massawe, and Ferdinand Makore, also names the Attorney General (AG) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as respondents. The Deputy Registrar, B.R. Nyaki, postponed the case until July 26, 2024.
According to the lawyers, they are requesting the court to order the release of their client from detention by the first and second respondents. Additionally, they are seeking a court order for the respondents to appear in court and explain why they are unlawfully detaining their client. The lawyers want the court to issue an order preventing the respondents from continuing to unlawfully detain their client and to summon them to explain the reasons for the unlawful detention and denial of freedom. Among other requests, the lawyers are asking the court to order the respondents to compensate their client for the unlawful and unwarranted detention.
Kombo has been missing since June 15, 2024, after being allegedly abducted by unknown individuals from his home in Kwamsala Village, Handeni District, Tanga Region. However, on July 14, 2024, Acting Tanga Regional Police Commander Zacharia Bernard announced that Kombo was in police custody on charges of using unregistered electronic devices and SIM cards from various networks to commit crimes in violation of national laws. On July 17, 2024, his relatives claimed that Kombo was taken to Tanga District Court to be charged with three offenses without their knowledge and was then remanded to Maweni Prison in the region.
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