Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania over the weekend.
Outrage over the brutal killing of a 30-year-old health centre doctor in Tarime
The Ministry of Health has condemned the killing of Dr. Isack Daniel Athuman, the Medical Officer in Charge of the Nyangoto Health Centre in Tarime.
On the night of May 3, 2023, as he was heading home on his motorcycle, Dr. Isack Athuman was hacked to death by a group of bandits. They stole his motorcycle and left him to bleed to death.
The senseless killing has been condemned by several organizations, including the Medical Association of Tanzania and the Legal and Human Rights Centre. They have called for an investigation and justice for all those involved.
Dr. Isack was known as a caring individual who valued service and worked tirelessly day and night to serve the people of Nyatongo, an area that is often avoided due to its remoteness. His colleagues and residents have expressed their grief over the loss of a great doctor and human being.
Dr. Isack was laid to rest in Iramba Singida on May 7, leaving behind a wife and a young daughter.
Controversy surrounds the death of UDOM student
Controversy surrounds the death of a third-year student at the University of Dodoma, putting the public university in a tight spot as the public demands answers as to what exactly led to the student’s death.
Unconfirmed reports of the death of Nusura Hassan Abdallah started to circulate as early as late last month, with some associating it with the road accident that involved Mr Festo Dugange, who is a Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration, and Local Government (PO-RALG).
Rumours had it that Mr Dugange was driving with a passenger before he was involved in the road accident on April 26, 2023, at St Peter’s area of Dodoma, with some suspecting the woman to be Nusura.
But police refuted these rumours on April 29, 2023, when Dodoma regional police commander Martin Otieno said that Mr Dugange was driving alone in the vehicle before it was involved in the accident that led to his hospitalisation.
“There have been rumours circulating on social media that a woman was driving with Mr Dugange, who ended up dead,” Mr Otieno told journalists. “These reports are false, and they should be ignored.”
Full story here.
Stakeholders to convene to discuss constitution-writing process
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has instructed the Registrar of Political Parties, Judge (retired) Francis Mutungi, to convene a special Political Parties Council meeting for stakeholders to evaluate the implementation status of recommendations by the presidential task force to improve multiparty democracy in Tanzania.
According to a statement by the presidency released on Saturday, the Head of State, during a meeting with senior government officials at the Chamwino State House, focused on the constitution-writing process.
According to the statement, President Samia said that the much-demanded process should not only focus on involving politicians and other experts but also ordinary Tanzanians from both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
During her meeting with senior government officials on Saturday, the Head of State was also updated on amending key electoral laws to ensure the coming election of 2025 takes place in a free and fair environment.
Top government officials who attended the meeting were the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliament), Jenista Mhagama, Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs Damas Ndumbaro and executives of various Institutions.
PCCB to employ more officers to fight against corruption
The Director-General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Salum Rashid Hamduni, said over the weekend that the anti-corruption watchdog intends to employ 322 officers to reinforce the fight against corruption in the country.
Hamduni said President Samia Suluhu Hassan has authorised recruiting the 322 officers.
He made the remarks while speaking shortly after he had inaugurated a PCCB office in the Kiteto district in the Manyara region.
Hamduni said the fight against corruption called for participation by all members of the public.
Hamduni added that the fight against corruption should be reinforced because it affected the country’s economic development.
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