Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam) POLICE in Zanzibar Urban West Region have identified a boy who is suspected to have beaten a Roman Catholic Church nun, Sister Irene Lodovic Mwenda, 34, accusing her of not controlling her dog which ate a hen owned by the accused.
According to the police, the incident occurred at Mtoni/Kibweni area after the nun’s dog, which was not leashed, came across a hen and attacked it. The incident made the boy angry. “We are investigating the incident and we have even asked the parent of the accused to report to the police station.
The boy is said to have beaten the woman,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mkadam Khamis. ACP Mkadam, the Urban West Regional Police Commander (RPC) said the attack had nothing to do with the nun’s religion and work. “This is misconduct on the part of the boy whose home is close to that of the nun, at Kibweni.”
The RPC did not release the name of the boy, saying he was out of office at the time when contacted. Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Zanzibar, Mr Omar Othman Makungu, will preside over the case of Omar Mussa Makame, 35, the main suspect in the murder of a Catholic priest Evarist Mushi, 51, who was shot dead on February 17 this year.
Mr Makungu replaces Judge Mkusa Isaac Sepetu who was rejected last month by the accused for, allegedly, not being fair to him. Makame is still in custody. His advocate, Mr Shaibu Ibrahim has raised his client’s concern over delay in investigation. Makame was arrested one month after the killing, and has since then complained about delays in investigation. The case comes up for another mention on September 5, this year.
Before adjourning the case, the Chief Justice asked the prosecutor to be quick in investigation. But the prosecutor attributes the delay to the Chief Chemist in Dar es Salaam where samples were forwarded for investigation.
The suspect is a carpenter and a politician who unsuccessfully vied for a House of Representatives seat for Rahaleo on the Civic United Front (CUF) ticket in the last general elections. Father Mushi, a Roman Catholic priest, was killed when on his way to say Sunday Mass at St Theresa Church in Beit el rasi, Mtoni area in Zanzibar.
President Kikwete ordered police to leave no stone unturned in search of the killers, including seeking foreign help to track down and bring the criminal to justice.
Meanwhile, NASHON KENNEDY reports from Mwanza that the city residents yesterday saw the Police Force Unit firing gas canisters at Chadema followers, as they marched to Mwanza Regional Commissioner’s Office.
They wanted to know why he didn’t receive the party’s demonstration as agreed earlier with Chadema Party officials in Ilemela District. The police intervention occurred from 2.00 pm up to 3.00 pm in the City centre. The Mwanza Airport Road was blocked. Police cars were seen in outskirts of the city maintaining order.
The scene started when members of the police force attempted to stop the Chadema followers, who insisted on marching to the Regional Commissioner’s Office. The aim of conducting the demonstration was to remove the Ilemela Mayor Henry Matata, who was said to be elected illegally. The protesters were to be received by Mwanza Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo who was not present at Furahisha grounds.
