Dar es Salaam: 12 arrested after man dies in chaos

By Katare Mbashiru, The Citizen Reporter.

Fresh reports on Wednesday’s violence at Mbezi Beach in Dar es Salaam -- that resulted from the killing of a tri-motorcycle driver by people suspected to be soldiers -- are coming out even as the police arrested 12 people in connection with the incident.

Violence broke out at Mbezi Beach Kwa Mboma, after some youth barricaded roads chanting slogans to protest the killing of a-20-year-old Bajaj driver Yohana Cypirian.The late Cypirian was said to have been killed by people claimed to be members of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF).

According to the Kinondoni regional police commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Charles Kenyela, police were still investigating if the suspected killers were really members of the TPDF.

According to him, unconfirmed reports have it that one of the suspected soldiers had lost his mobile phone a day before the incident; and that this precipitated violence after four people dressed in TPDF uniforms stormed the area and started assaulting civilians.

Four police officers were seriously injured after an angry mob thronged Kawe police station and demanded that one Levilian Anatory, a militia, who was arrested by the police should be surrendered to them.

Police acted swiftly by firing tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd. Mr Anatory, who is now being interrogated so as help in identifying the culprits, was said to have lead the claimed soldiers to Mbezi just minutes before the standoff started.

“I condemn the habit of people taking the law into their own hands. This is a country that upholds human rights, the Constitution and the rule of law,” said ACP Kenyela.

He said already, TPDF have launched investigations to establish if their soldiers were involved in the unlawful act.

TPDF spokesman Colonel Kapambala Mgawe confirmed to The Citizen that the matter was under investigation. “This is a police case. If it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that our soldiers were involved, then the legal due process must proceed, they acted in their own capacity,” he said.

Col. Kapambala said that other military measures would follow later according to the guiding principles.

Source: The Citizen (04/04/2013): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/30250-12-arrested-after-man-dies-in-chaos