MARA: 15 arrested over killing of women

By Beldina Nyakeke, The Citizen Correspondent.

Fifteen people, including a councillor, have been arrested in connection with the wave of ritual killing of women in Mara Region.

Mara Regional Police Commander Absalom Mwakyoma said the suspects were arrested in Musoma and Butiama districts, where several women have been killed and some of their body parts taken by the killers.

The arrests were made during an operation led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Sirro.

Mr Mwakyoma said the suspects were being questioned  and were expected to appear in court soon.

The Police Force headquarters earlier this week dispatched a team to Mara Region to assist in the hunt for people involved in the gruesome killings that have been linked to witchcraft.

Residents of Musoma and Butiama districts have been living in fear for several months since the killings began last August.

Six people have been killed so far, forcing  women to curtain their routine activities such as fetching water and firewood and tilling the land.

Frightened residents suspect there is a serial killer on the loose or some crazed people motivated by superstitious beliefs associated with mining.

The first victim was an elderly woman from Mhare Village, who was killed by unknown assailants who cut off and took her legs and tongue.  

In October, a Standard Six pupil was killed in Etaro Village as she walked home from Lake Victoria where she had gone to fetch water.

The next victim was a woman from Nyakirira Village, followed by an incident in December in which Ms Blandina Peru of Mahare Village was killed as she was fetching firewood.

In yet another incident, Ms Sabina Mkireri, a resident of Kabegi Village in Nyakatende Ward, was killed by unknown assailants, who fled with her head and genitals.

More killings are said to have taken place in Nyakatende Ward after a constitutional review meeting.

Source: The Citizen (11/01/2013): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/-/28129-15-arrested-over-killing-of-women