Zanzibar’s Machui Catholic Parish priest Anselm Mwang’amba receives
treatment at the Muhimbili National Hospital where he has been admitted
following an acid attack in Zanzibar recently.
PHOTO | SALIM SHAO
In Summary
“Today, the attackers have attacked me, but you never know who would be the next victim,” he warned.
Dar es Salaam. The most recent acid-attack
victim in Zanzibar, Roman Catholic priest Anselm Mwang’amba, has vowed
that he would return to the Isles when he gets well.
Fr Mwang’amba said yesterday that the attack on him would not make him shy away from spreading the word of God in Zanzibar.
He said there was no reason for not going back
because every place on earth has got its own challenges, and added that
the best approach was to face them rather than running away from them.
“Even if I am released today from hospital, I will go to Zanzibar… this
is what I learnt from Jesus Christ who was crucified on the holy cross… I
have to endure pain for the sake of God,” he said.
He was speaking from a hospital bed at Muhimbili
National Hospital (MNH) where he is admitted as an inpatient following
serious injuries he sustained when he was attacked with acid in the
Isles last week.
Fr Mwang’amba, who heads the Machui Catholic
Parish, also pleaded with the public to demand answers on why there was
not a single culprit arrested over the acid attacks despite an increase
in such incidents in Zanzibar.
“I call upon journalists, particularly as the
voice for the voiceless, to give more coverage on this trend so that
people can call to question the authorities’ inactivity,” he said.
He also asked all religious leaders to unite
against the attacks in a move that would awaken the government to take
serious action in addressing the problem.
“Today, the attackers have attacked me, but you never know who would be the next victim,” he warned.
Explaining on the attack, he wondered why his
attacker was not arrested even though there were people when he was
assailed. “Taxi drivers at the area where I was attacked confirmed to me
that some people saw the attacker, and even the house in which the
assailant entered...but I don’t understand why until now he is yet to be
arrested,” he asked.
As several stakeholders called for resignation of
Zanzibar Police Commissioner, Mr Mussa Ali Mussa, for his part, Fr
Mwang’amba said he leave the matter to the responsible authorities.
On other hand, he said he was encouraged by
Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein who visited him at Mnazi Mmoja
hospital where he was initially admitted before shifted to MNH. Also
thanked Inspector General of Police (IGP) Said Mwema and Dar es Salaam
Special Zone Commander Suleiman Kova for visiting him at the MNH.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
