Good morning!The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania over the weekend.
Police search several men for gang rape and distributing obscene videos of the incident online
Police are looking for at least five men who over the weekend became the topic of conversation over the video that circulated on social media, showing the men gang-raping a woman.
Social media users who saw the video have highlighted that the men who appeared intoxicated, told the woman that they were gangraping her because she cheated with somebody’s husband.
The latest crime statistics report from the Police shows that there is an increase in rape and sodomy crimes. In 2022, 6,827 rape incidents were recorded this has increased to 8,691 in 2023.
Police have urged the public not to circulate the video as it’s a crime and also report the whereabouts of the criminals who appeared in the video.
Mwabukusi a new President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS)
Boniface Mwabukusi was sworn in as the new president of the Tanganyika Law Society on August 03, 2024, following his landslide victory over the August 02, 2024 election.
Mwabukusi won the position with 1,274 votes, representing 57.4% of the total votes, defeating his competitors Sweetbert Nkuba, who received 807 votes, along with Revocutus Kuuli, Ibrahim Bendera, Paul Kaunda, and Emmanuel Muga.
This TLS election attracted significant attention, especially after the controversy that arose when Mwabukusi was disqualified by the election appeals committee on July 5, 2024, a decision he contested in court. The disqualification was attributed to what was described as an ‘ethical stain’ that allegedly violated the election rules.
On July 11, 2024, Mwabukusi applied to the High Court to review the decision that removed him from the list of TLS presidential candidates. He was supported by several fellow lawyers who attended the court, in addition to the 29 who represented him before the judge. On July 26, the court overturned the decision that had disqualified him as a candidate.
Mwabukusi has pledged to revive the Bar position in defending the rule of law in the country, with his speech after the swear-in ceremony highlighting issues such as the practice of government institutions despising court rulings and the removal of some tribes from their ancestral land.
“We witnessed a few days ago, that the court allowed bail but the detainee was not produced, if we allow and stay quiet people who despise court ruling, it will lead to people losing faith in the court and eventually lead to Gen-Z [version of protest] in Tanzania.”
“We must ensure the court is respected, without doing this it will lead to a Kangaroo society where people will walk with machetes for justice,”
Mwabukusi became famous during the discussion of the controversial Dubai-Tanzania port agreement where he organized several media campaigns, rallies, and even an unsuccessful demonstration.
Due to his activism, he has not been favored by the state apparatus this led to several arrests, and even an idea of being charged with treason was floated around.
Man who burned president’s portrait allegedly kidnapped, police say they are investigating
The Mbeya Regional Police Force has initiated an investigation to identify unknown individuals allegedly responsible for the kidnapping of Shadrack Chaula (24), a resident of Ntokela Village in Rungwe District. Chaula is reported to have been kidnapped nearly 20 days after being released from Ruanda Regional Prison in Mbeya, where he had been sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of TZS 5 million for burning a portrait of the president.
Following the sentence issued on July 4, 2024, various stakeholders raised the required amount through online contributions, and the fine was paid on July 8, 2024, leading to his release. After reports of his kidnapping surfaced on social media, Mbeya Regional Police Commander (RPC) Benjamin Kuzaga stated on Saturday, August 3, 2024, that they are investigating the incident.
“We have already started an investigation to determine if the kidnapping reports circulating on social media are true, especially since there were those who contributed to his release from prison,” he said.
The report of Chaula’s kidnapping comes shortly after several other kidnapping incidents have been reported nationwide. It is worth noting that the Tanzania police force has denied any involvement of its officers in the kidnappings, despite widespread accusations. However, the relevant ministry has announced strategies to address and eliminate kidnapping incidents in the country.
Minister Silaa dissolves TTCL board
The Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, has dissolved the board of the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) following the removal of its chairman by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on July 23, 2024.
In a statement released on August 4, 2024, by the Acting Head of the Communications Unit of the ministry, Isabela Katondo, it was clarified that the board was dissolved on August 2, 2024, by the minister, exercising his authority.
President Samia rescinded the appointment of TTCL Board of Directors Chairperson Zuhura Muro and the corporation’s Director General, Engineer Peter Ulanga.
Other leaders who were dismissed on that day included the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tanzania Post Corporation, retired Brigadier General Yohana Mabongo, and the Postmaster General of the corporation, Maharage Chande. Additionally, the Chairman of the Board of the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF), Professor John Nkoma, and the fund’s Chief Executive Officer, Justina Mashiba, were also relieved of their duties.
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