Policeman charged over Mwangosi's Killing

By The Citizen Reporters

Dar es Salaam/Iringa.

A police officer was charged yesterday with the murder of Daudi Mwangosi, a TV reporter who was killed while covering a rally organised by Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) early this month in Iringa.

A preliminary police investigation found that Pasifious Cleophace Simon (23) had a case to answer. A statement released yesterday by the ministry said the police investigation had  established that the policeman fired the gas canister that caused the death of Mwangosi, a TV reporter who worked for Channel Ten Television Station, at the September 2 political rally.

Home Affairs minister Emmanuel Nchimbi, said in the statement: “I received the preliminary investigation report over the matter last Friday. It was brought before me by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Saidi Mwema. After I received the report, I directed the IGP to take the matter to the director of public prosecution for further legal actions.”

PC Simon appeared early yesterday morning before Senior Resident Magistrate Dyness Lyimo at the Iringa District Court under tight security. Reading the charge sheet, Prosecutor Michael Luwena said the defendant killed Mr Mwangosi on September 2 at Nyololo village in Mufindi District.

The defendant was not required to plead. The case was adjourned to September 26. The district court has no powers to conduct murder cases.

PC Simon, who worked with the Field Force Unit in Iringa, was brought to court in a Land Cruiser with tinted windows that was escorted by a Land Cruiser pick-up. Upon arrival, he was rushed to court, surrounded by about 10 armed plainclothes and uniformed policemen.

In his statement, minister Nchimbi said the arrest would not get in the way of the committee led by Judge Ihema that is looking into media-police relations. The findings and recommendations of the committee will apply not only to journalists but also  to political parties and are expected to help improve relations between the police force and the general public.  

“I urge the public and other major stakeholders to be patient as the legal procedure is taking its course,” Dr Nchimbi said.

Meanwhile, activists have raised concerns about the rate of human rights violation that have led to the death of innocent people. They made the remarks at a symposium organised by the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which discussed the human rights situation in Tanzania and the banning of Mwanahalisi newspaper.Participants urged the government to take immediate action against police officers involved in the Mwangosi killing.

Mwangosi was killed on September 2 during a confrontation between Chadema followers and the police force at Nyololo village in Iringa.

They said that the killing of Mwangosi and the banning of Mwanahalisi violate human rights and the right to information and asked Dr Nchimbi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Said Mwema and Iringa Regional Police Commander Michael Kamuhanda to step down. The activists gave the government a one-week ultimatum for the civil servants to resign for failing to take legal action against police officers involved in killing innocent people.

Mwangosi becomes the second person to be killed in conflicts pitting the police against the opposition party in the span of two weeks. Recently, Mr Ally Zona was killed in Morogoro when police were dispersing Chadema supporters who were planning to hold demonstrations.

Following the death of Mr Mwangosi a series of committees were formed to investigate the death.  Dr Nchimbi formed a probe team led by retired Court of Appeal Judge Stephen Ihema, with other members coming from the Media Council of Tanzania, the Tanzania Editors Forum, police and an explosives expert from the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces.

Mr Mwema led another police team that looked into the circumstances which led to the death and presented its investigations to the minister last Friday. The editors’ forum also formed a three-person team to look into the matter.

Reported by Hakimu Mwafongo (Iringa), Mkinga Mkinga  and Frank Amani (Dar)

Source: The Citizen (13/09/2012): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/component/content/article/37-tanzania-top-news-story/25630-mwangosi-policeman-charged.html