Five defendants were accused in the murder of Milembe Suleman, 43, who was killed on April 26, 2023, by a sharp object. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis
Byemelwa
The Geita High Court's second
session continues today 3rd July 2024, hearing various murder cases
in the town of Geita. Notably, Anold Shemasi was sentenced to death by hanging
after being found guilty of deliberately killing his one-month-old daughter,
Anna Shemas, because she did not resemble him.
This session began on June 18,
2024, and has seen the court presided over by Principal Judge Kevin Mhina.
Among the cases heard is that of
five defendants accused of murdering Milembe Suleman, 43, who was killed on
April 26, 2023, by being struck with a sharp object. One defendant was
acquitted due to insufficient evidence, while the remaining four await sentencing
on July 19, 2024.
Defendants Dayfath Maunga,
Safari Lubingo, Genja Pastory, and Musa Pastory were found to have a case to
answer following testimonies from 29 witnesses and the presentation of 19
exhibits. The accused defended themselves in court.
In another case, the court
acquitted Stephano Mlenda, 31, a resident of Chigunga, Geita District, who was
charged with accidentally killing his nine-year-old son.
Mlenda admitted to the unintended killing,
stating he was disciplining his son for stealing 700 shillings to buy soda.
Judge Mhina clarified that the intent was to punish, not kill.
As well, four defendants accused
of murdering Alphonce Mawazo, the former chairman of Chadema in Geita Region,
were released after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the case. This
followed a June 18, 2024, order for a retrial by the Court of Appeal in Mwanza,
citing legal flaws in the original trial process.
The court also freed Bahati
Shija, accused of intentionally killing his wife, Grace Daud, by striking her
on the head with a metal object after she refused reconciliation. Shija was
acquitted due to the prosecution's failure to prove his guilt.
Currently, the court, under
Judge Graffin Mwakapeje, is hearing the case of Zephania Ndalawa, accused of
strangling Thomas Masumbuko, contrary to sections 196 and 197 of the Penal
Code, revised in 2022.
On November 6, 2023, Geita's
regional police force launched the "Talk to Them" campaign to educate
the public and curb violence and murder in the community.
Geita ranks fifth in Tanzania
for such incidents. Regional Commissioner Martine Shigela inaugurated the
campaign at the EPZA hall in Geita, with Regional Police Commander ACP Safia
Jongo highlighting that witchcraft beliefs in mining areas are a major cause of
violence.
"Suspects often admit to
committing violence due to witchcraft beliefs, such as being told by a
traditional healer that raping a three-year-old would result in finding
gold," said ACP Jongo.
"This campaign aims to educate miners on
modern mining practices to eliminate such harmful beliefs and reduce violence
in the community."
ACP Jongo noted a decline in
murder cases from 49 last year to 32 this year. "For example, last year we
had 49 murder cases by October, but this year, we have 32.
Although there is a positive trend, cases of
rape decreased from 86 last year to 75 this year, sodomy cases dropped from 7
to 6, assault cases decreased from 26 to 21, and school pregnancies reduced
from 27 to 25."
Commissioner Shigela urged all
leaders, from village chairpersons to ten-house representatives of the ruling
party, to ensure gender-based violence and child abuse are controlled in their
areas.
Activists committed to combating
violence expressed their readiness to support the police in eradicating such
acts from the community. "If we unite, both those fighting against
violence and those committing it can be educated to eliminate these acts from
our society," emphasized Anuary Aziz, a prominent activist against
gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, as the Geita High
Court continues its second session, grappling with complex murder cases and
delivering pivotal judgments, the community remains engaged in the effort to
address underlying issues contributing to violence.
With ongoing trials shaping
legal precedents and public discourse, the collaborative efforts of activists,
law enforcement, and local leaders are crucial in fostering a safer environment
for all residents of Geita.