DAR ES SALAAM: Several charged over recent Kawe riots

Written by FAUSTINE KAPAMA.

TEN people have been charged with several criminal offences, including attacking police officials and damaging exhibits, following the invasion of a police station in Kawe area in Dar es Salaam last week.

The event is alleged to have been fuelled by some soldiers who are accused of attacking a bajaj driver and killing him on the spot, thus causing members of the public to react.

The ten accused persons were brought before Resident Magistrate Geni Dudu at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday to answer the charges but denied any involvement. Other charges include conspiracy to commit an offence, unlawful assembly and rioting.

They are Alex Kalinga (35), Benson Mdeke (24), Malukira Amir (42), Stanley Mdeke (18), George Ramadhani (26), Ramadhani Zuberi (19), Riziki Kimboni (21), Paul Mwamba (30), Julias Lemeshiru (23), Peter Kiguru (22), Eva Maeja (19), Said Ramadhani (23) and Francis Kiliga (21).

The magistrate denied them bail until April 23, when the case will be mentioned after granting a request by the prosecution. Senior State Attorney Tumaini Kweka had requested the court to temporarily halt bail to the accused persons considering the gravity and circumstances of the offences committed.

He submitted, “The way in which the accused acted distanced them from being good citizens. They invaded the police station, attacked and injured police officers who are mandated to protect people’s lives and properties and maliciously damaged some properties.”

The prosecutor added, “It will be safe if the accused persons will remain in the hands of the government department of prison to allow investigations being carried out to proceed smoothly.” Reading the charges, the prosecution informed the court that the accused persons committed the offences on April 3, this year, at Kawe Police Station in Kinondoni District in the city.

The accused, according to him, conspired to commit an offence on the same day and place. On the same day and place, the prosecutor alleged, wilfully and with intent to carry out common purpose, the accused assembled in a manner as to cause breach of peace.

Thereafter, the trial attorney alleged, the accused engaged in riots, disregarding a lawful proclamation issued by police prohibiting them from conducting unlawful assembly. Mr Kweka further told the court that during the riots, the accused assaulted three police officers, including Corporal Felix, Police Constable Aziz and Detective Corporal Alson by hitting them with stones on their faces and chest.

The accused also damaged windscreens of two motor vehicles with registration number T 221 APS, a Toyota Caldina and T 646 AZN, an Isuzu Trooper, all valued at 800,000/, the prosecution further alleged, adding that the two vehicles were exhibits that had been stored under the police custody.

In another development, FATMA ABDU reports police in Kinondoni have arrested five people including soldiers of Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) in Lugalo Kawe camp in Dar es Salaam allegedly for killing a Bajaj driver, John Cyprian (20), last Wednesday evening in Kinondoni municipality.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Kinondoni Regional Police Commander (RPC) Charles Kenyela could not mention names of the suspects until investigations of the incident are completed. The TPDF spokesman, Colonel Kapambala Mgawe, said the army had no objection over the arrests after receiving a formal notice on the arrest of the soldiers.

According to Colonel Mgawe, if proved that the soldiers were really involved in the incident, they would face disciplinary actions governed by military services. He said that they are waiting for an official statement from the police to take further actions.

Meanwhile, HILDA MHAGAMA reports that two people have died in separate incidents which occurred in Temeke Municipality, including a pedestrian identified as Casian Kapwepwe (90), a resident of Kurasini, who died in a road accident in Dar es Salaam on Monday morning.

Temeke Regional Police Commander (RPC) Englibert Kiondo told journalists in Dar es Salaam that the incident occurred when a Scania with registration number T 376 AFT knocked the man along Mandela road at Kurasini in Temeke Municipality.

He said that the driver of the lorry who was identified as Richard Materu (27), a resident of Tabata Bima, had been arrested. In another incident, Mr Kiondo confirmed the death of a man who was identified as Charles Fulgence Mngoma (37), a resident of Mtoni area in Temeke Municipality at 20hrs. He explained that the man was found dead with wounds on his body.

Source: Daily News (10/04/2013): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/16293-several-charged-over-recent-kawe-riots