Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on August 19, 2024.
A Senior Police Officer in Tanzania Allegedly Described a Gang-Rape Victim As a ‘Likely Sex Worker.’ It Didn’t End Well
Your life can flip in a matter of seconds, a popular American phrase that couldn’t be more fitting than in the case of Theopista Mallya, who slept as the Dodoma Regional Police Commander on Sunday, but hours in the next day she was no longer with the title.
The senior assistant commissioner of police reportedly told Mwananchi newspaper on Sunday that the victim in a highly popularised gang rape case whose name is being held was likely a sex worker, citing ongoing findings from ongoing police investigations into the matter, ruffling feathers among members of the general public, leading to her dethronement.
Six people, allegedly some were officers from Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF), reportedly gang-raped the girl, a resident of Temeke, Dar es Salaam, while recording their heinous crime in the video. Allegedly carrying the order of a senior female officer in the Police Force, who accused the girl of having affairs with her husband, the men abused the girl in Dodoma, causing a public uproar after the video leaked to the public.
Mallya, then Dodoma police boss, told Mwananchi that nobody ordered the men, four of them brought to court on Monday while two remain awol, to carry out the crime, describing them as “drunkards and marijuana smokers.” But her remarks that the alleged victim was likely a sex worker fell on angry ears, and as soon as the sunrise on Monday, things started to go haywire.
Users on social media platform X started reacting to the story, with many mentioning the minister responsible for gender, Dorothy Gwajima, in their condemnation of Mallya’s alleged characterisation of the girl as a potential sex worker. The messages of anger, frustration and dissatisfaction flowed like a river, and by 10:38 AM, the minister was forced to issue a statement.
Read the full story here
Weather Conditions Delay the Reception of a New Aircraft in Zanzibar
A new Boeing B787 Dreamliner, which was expected to be received on Monday, August 19, 2024, in Zanzibar, has been delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions affecting the reception. According to the initial schedule, the aircraft was expected to land at 4:00 PM and be received by the President of Zanzibar, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi, at the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar.
In a statement released on August 19, 2024, by the Public Relations and Communication Unit of Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), it was explained that the sudden changes were beyond the control of the relevant authorities. “The weather challenge has caused a change in the flight schedule, and a new arrival time for the aircraft will be announced. Air Tanzania Company Limited apologizes for the inconvenience,” the statement said.
A similar statement released by the Directorate of Presidential Communications in Zanzibar, signed by the Deputy Director of Presidential Communications, Raqey Mohamed, also conveyed the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government’s apologies for the inconvenience caused.
The aircraft, which will be the third in the Boeing B787-8 family, with two already in the country, has a capacity of 262 passengers, including 22 business class seats and 240 economy class seats. It can also carry between 15 to 20 tons of cargo, depending on the passenger and baggage load.
It’s worth noting that the revitalization of Air Tanzania began in 2016 when the Government of Tanzania undertook various measures, including purchasing new aircraft, making changes to the management and Board of Directors, and providing commercial capital. By December 2023, ATCL had received 14 new aircraft purchased by the government.
These aircraft include two long-haul Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with a capacity of 262 passengers each, two Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft with a capacity of 181 passengers, four medium-range Airbus A220-300 aircraft with a capacity of 132 passengers each, five short-haul Dash 8 Q400 aircraft with a capacity of 76 passengers each, and a large cargo aircraft, the Boeing 767-300F, with a capacity of 54 tons.
However, the Tanzanian government continues to acquire new aircraft despite reports from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) indicating that Air Tanzania has consistently made losses for the past five years, as per the latest audit report for the year 2021/22. In the 2021/2022 financial year, the company lost TZS 30.63 billion. The CAG noted that the loss would have reached TZS 65.86 billion without the government’s grant of TZS 30.63 billion.
LHRC Demands Justice in the Case of a Girl Who Was Raped and Sodomized, Calls on Authorities to Provide Appropriate Responses
The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has expressed deep concern over the circulating reports regarding the brutal incident involving a girl from Dar es Salaam, which was recorded in videos that have gone viral, shows the girl being subjected to rape, sodomy, and forced to apologize to a “senior” officer.
In a press conference held on August 19, 2024, in Dar es Salaam, the Executive Director of the center, Anna Henga, raised 11 questions following the statement made by the former Dodoma Regional Police Commander (RPC), Theopista Mallya, who said that the victim is likely a sex worker. LHRC expressed disappointment and stated that it has many unanswered questions about the police force’s response since the incident came to light.
“LHRC would like to remind everyone that the act committed against the victim is inhumane, brutal, and a violation of human rights and the laws of the country. Anyone who turns a blind eye to such acts is an enemy of justice and humanity,” the statement reads.
LHRC urged the police force to stop protecting and defending criminals, pointing out that the RPC Dodoma’s statement clearly defends the perpetrators and the crime committed. The police were also urged to allow the victim to receive counseling services from an independent body that has no vested interests in the case.
Among the questions raised by the center, LHRC asked about the identity of the “senior” officer mentioned in the reports and what actions have been taken against him, as the official police statement has yet to mention this person, beyond the now-dismissed RPC’s claim that the attackers were not acting under anyone’s orders.
On August 9, 2024, the police announced that they had arrested four out of five suspects, including Clinton Damas, also known as “Nyundo,” Praygod Mushi, Amini Lema, and Nikson Jackson. The suspects were apprehended in the Dodoma and Pwani regions, while the police continue to search for the remaining two suspects who have not yet been found.
LHRC outlined these 11 questions, demanding that the relevant authorities provide answers and clarifications. Among these, LHRC questioned the accuracy of the information being released by the police headquarters, the Ministry of Home Affairs, or the Regional Police Commanders of Dar es Salaam and Dodoma. The center also questioned which military branch the suspects belong to and requested information on the whereabouts and profile of the fifth suspect since the police announced the arrest of four.
Additionally, the statement from LHRC called on the authorities to disclose the identity of the “senior” officer who allegedly ordered the suspects, as this individual’s identity remains unknown. LHRC also raised concerns about the victim’s safety, questioning whether keeping the victim in police custody, especially when the police are accusing her of being “likely a sex worker,” might jeopardize the pursuit of justice and the preservation of evidence.
Furthermore, LHRC sought clarification on whether being “likely a sex worker” justifies being subjected to acts of violence, including rape. The statement also questioned whose interests the police are serving with such disgraceful actions and statements as the one made by the former RPC.
LHRC’s statement comes as various reports indicate that the four suspects who were arrested were brought to court on August 19 and faced charges, although all of them denied the allegations.
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