By Adonis Byemelwa
The Tanzanian Police Force has
launched an urgent investigation into a horrific assault in Yombo Dovya, Dar es
Salaam. Five men allegedly raped and sodomized an unnamed girl, claiming in a
viral video they were sent by an officer who accused her of having an affair
with a married man. The brutal attack has sparked outrage, with authorities
vowing swift justice.
The video, which has gone viral
online, shows the perpetrators carrying out the heinous act. The police and the
Minister of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Needs, Dr.
Dorothy Gwajima, have strongly condemned the incident.
On Sunday, August 4, 2024, former
Ubungo Mayor Boniface Jacob took to social media platform X to highlight the
assault, urging leaders, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Camilus Wambura, to take swift action. As
well, Jacob called on the Minister of Defense and National Service, Dr.
Stergomena Tax, to intervene.
"Since the Commander-in-Chief of
the Tanzanian Armed Forces is a woman, the Minister of Defense is a woman, and
the Minister for Women is a woman, we expect to see them deeply troubled by
this abuse and violence against a young girl, acting as both parents and
leaders responsible for protecting Tanzanian citizens," Jacob wrote.
"The officers who filmed
themselves raping and sodomizing her have shared the video online under orders
from their superior who directed them to punish her," he claimed.
Responding to Jacob's post, Minister
Gwajima stated, "Thank you for tagging me. I have read and submitted it to
the responsible authority for investigation and apprehension, which is the
Ministry of Home Affairs. They will provide an update in due course."
"However, such news is
distressing, and this kind of act is unacceptable and condemnable. It cannot be
ignored. If the survivor or anyone close to her reads this, they should not be
afraid to come forward. Reporting the incident is crucial to ensure she
receives immediate help, including medical, psychological, and safety
services."
Minister Gwajima concluded,
"Thank you, let us continue to work together to protect our community. We
are one society; evil has no place."
Shortly after, Police Spokesperson
David Misime addressed the public, announcing that the police had begun
investigating the incident and denouncing it as unacceptable and illegal,
violating Tanzanian morals and human dignity.
"The police urge everyone to stop
sharing the video, as it is both a legal offense and an act that further
degrades the dignity of our fellow human beings," Police Spokesperson
Misime stated. "We appeal to anyone with information to ensure that
justice is swiftly served by helping us identify and apprehend the perpetrators."
Following the police statement,
Minister Gwajima revisited Jacob's page, reposted the police statement, and
added: "Let's work together to safeguard our community. Evil acts like
this must be condemned and addressed promptly to ensure justice for the victim."
In April 2016, six men accused of
raping and sodomizing a young woman and subsequently recording and distributing
the video were arraigned in Morogoro Resident Magistrate's Court.
The accused include Iddi Adamu Mabena,
32, from Njombe, and Zuberi Thabiti, 30, from Mbalali, Mbeya. The case is being
prosecuted by three government attorneys: Gloria Rwakibalila, Edgar Bantulaki,
and Kalistus Kapinga.
Reading the charges, Prosecutor
Rwakibalila identified the main perpetrators as Iddi Adamu and Zuberi Thabiti.
According to Rwakibalila, the suspects knowingly committed the crime, raping
and sodomizing a 21-year-old woman, causing her severe pain.
The incident allegedly took place on April 27,
2016, at around 7 PM in a guest house named Titii, located in the Dakawa Division,
Mvomero District.
Government lawyers opposed bail for
the accused, arguing that the case has deeply affected public sentiment and
that there is a risk of the accused tampering with evidence if released.
Presiding Magistrate Mary Moyo heard the pleas
of the accused, who all denied the charges. Due to the opposition to bail, the
accused were remanded in custody. The case will be mentioned again on June 1,
2016, as investigations are still ongoing.
In a related charge, the six suspects,
along with four others, were accused of distributing explicit pornographic
videos via the social media platform WhatsApp. Prosecutor Edgar Bantulaki
stated that the suspects violated section 14(1)(b) and 2(b) of the Cybercrime
Act of 2015.
He identified the additional suspects as
Rajabu Salehe, 30, Ramadhani Ally, 26, Muhsin Ng'ahy, 36, and John Peter, 24,
all residents of Wami, Dakawa in Mvomero District.
Bantulaki claimed that the suspects
began distributing the explicit videos between April 28 and 30, 2016, across
the Mvomero District and the entire Morogoro Region via WhatsApp. Defense
attorney Ignas Kunge, representing the fourth suspect (Ally), requested bail
for his client, a plea that was vehemently opposed by the government attorneys
due to the case's high public interest and the potential risk of interfering
with the investigation.
Presiding Magistrate Ivan Msaki also
heard this plea, and the accused were remanded in custody pending further
mention of the case on June 1, 2016, where bail issues will be addressed.
Former Morogoro Regional Police
Commander Urlich Matei stated that six suspects were arraigned out of the
eleven initially implicated due to incomplete investigations on the remaining
suspects.
Commander Matei emphasized the gravity
of the alleged crimes and the community's intolerance towards such acts. He
urged the public to refrain from using technology for criminal activities,
reminding them of the stringent cybercrime laws recently passed by the parliament.
Regional Police Commander Urlich Matei
has called for equipping the Tanzanian police with advanced technology similar
to that used by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). This
move aims to combat the rising global trend of cybercrime, including thefts,
harassment, and offensive online behavior.
The call for technological advancement
comes amidst a backdrop of controversial disciplinary actions within the force.
In October 2014, three officers—Asumba Mwasumbi, Veronic Mdeme, and Fadhiri
Linga—were dismissed after a photograph of them kissing went viral. The sacking
of Mwasumbi and Mdeme for gross misconduct, and Linga for photographing the
incident, drew significant public backlash.
The photo, which had been taken in
2012 but only recently shared online, ignited a storm of criticism. Many
Tanzanians viewed the dismissals as excessively harsh, especially given the
police force’s notorious corruption, as highlighted by the East Africa Bribery
Index (EABI) ranking Tanzania’s police as the most corrupt in the region.
Masoud George, a lawyer with the
Tanzania Legal and Human Rights Centre, defended the dismissals from a legal
perspective, citing adherence to the police code of conduct. However, the
incident underscored deep-seated issues within the Tanzanian police force,
illustrating a troubling disconnect between internal policies and public
perception.
Sexual harassment remains a
significant issue in Tanzania, particularly when law enforcers are involved.
Such abuses erode public trust and highlight the urgent need for comprehensive
reforms to protect victims and ensure justice. "Let's ensure justice for
the victim and prevent future atrocities," emphasized Minister Gwajima,
reinforcing the critical need for systemic change to address these pressing
concerns.