Police arrest purported Zanzibar priest killer

BY MWINYI SADALLAH.

Police in Zanzibar say they have arrested one Omar Mussa Makame (35) in connection with the killing of a Roman Catholic priest, Father Evaristus Gabriel Mushi on February 17 – who was shot dead as he approached his church at the suburban Mtoni area.

Zanzibar Police Commissioner Mussa Ali Mussa told reporters yesterday that Omar Mussa Makame was arrested at Kariakoo area following “an intense police patrol” carried out by its detectives.    

“ … the person behind the killing of Father Mushi has been arrested and identified by eye witnesses … ,” Commissioner Mussa noted.

The reported arrest comes just two days after Dar es Salaam  Archbishop Polycarp Cardinal Pengo accused police of shoddy performance and failure to arrest the killers.

Acting Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Isaya Mngulu reacted a day later to Caridinal Pengo’s observations that the perpetrators were not ‘mere sheep tied on a tree’ awaiting capture – by the police hopefully.  

     

Commissioner Mussa said the file containing details of the suspected killer had already been submitted to the Zanzibar Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Ibrahim Mzee for legal action and that the purported killer would be arraigned in court next week – a man they identified as Omar Mussa Makame, a Carpenter who lived at Mwanakwerekwe locality.

Mussa added that his office was working hard to ensure that all behind the killings were arrested.

Police offered a 10m/- award for information that would lead to the capture of the alleged killers, according to Commissioner Mussa.  

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He intimated that local police and investigators from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had worked tirelessly to accomplish the assignment.

The purported killer is said to have once contested a political post of House of Representatives during the 2010 general election.     

Father Evaristus Mushi was blocked by two young men at the entrance of the church, where he was shot in the head, according to Mohammed Mhina, the police spokesman in Zanzibar. 

Three people were later arrested in connection with the killing, according to police top boss Said Mwema. President Jakaya Kikwete said he was "shocked and saddened" by the attack. 

"This is a deplorable incident and must be condemned in the strongest of possible terms... all those responsible must be brought to justice," President Kikwete said in a statement.

On Christmas Day, gunmen shot and seriously wounded a Catholic priest as he returned home from church. 

It remains unclear if the two attacks were linked, or religiously motivated.  

Mussa also said police were also holding people behind the arrest of people who ‘dusted’ acid in the face and chest of the private secretary to the Zanzibar Mufti, Sheikh Fadhil Soraga and the shooting Father Ambrose Mkenda. 

However, Mussa declined further details but intimated that the alleged persons would soon appear.

In the meantime, Easter mass will be held in the morning and afternoon only and no mass will be conducted at traditional night hours due to fear of planned attacks to Christian leaders.

This reporter has observed that prayers had been rescheduled, and some of the followers were attending masses at different churches during daytime.

The most notable cases were at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) – but Roman Catholic priest Cosmas Shao urged  believers to adhere to set schedules.

 SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (30/03/2013): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=52928