Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Muliro Jumanne Muliro. Photo: File
By the Respondent Reporter
Dar es Salaam-The Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police on September 4, 2024, have intensified efforts to ensure the safety of the city, focusing on addressing heinous crimes such as sexual assault and rape. This follows a series of disturbing incidents that have sometimes resulted in the victims' deaths.
On September 3, 2024, the police held a crucial meeting with 80 traditional healers, commonly known as alternative medicine practitioners. The session aimed to educate them on the illegality and dangers of engaging in harmful practices.
These practices included advising clients that engaging in sexual violence, such as raping or molesting children, was a means to achieve success and wealth. The police have issued a stern warning, stating that any practitioners found involved in such activities will face legal action.
In addition to addressing traditional practices, the police have been actively enforcing legal systems and implementing recommendations from the criminal justice commission. They have successfully brought several perpetrators of various crimes to justice.
Among the notable cases, 16 accused individuals were sentenced for crimes of rape and molestation between July and August 2024.
For instance, Boniphace Paul, 24, a resident of Mbezi kwa Msuguli, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Kinondoni Resident Magistrate’s Court on August 15, 2024. Paul was convicted of raping and molesting a 13-year-old female student.
In another significant case, George Godfrey, 21, from Chanika, was convicted of armed robbery at Coco Beach. Godfrey received a 30-year prison sentence after being found guilty by the Kinondoni Resident Magistrate’s Court on August 28, 2024.
In a separate incident on the night of September 3, 2024, police responded to reports of two individuals armed with machetes threatening and robbing passersby in Kawe Tanganyika Pekers.
The suspects resisted arrest and attacked an officer. In self-defense, the officer fired into the air and then shot one of the assailants, Festo Maricha, 27, a resident of Mbezi Luis. Maricha was taken to Mwanayamala Hospital for treatment, while his accomplice fled.
The Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police urge the public to continue reporting any suspicious activities that could assist in preventing crime and ensuring the safety of the city.