17th September 2013
A recent acid victim from Zanzibar has called upon
the government to hasten investigations into the case to bring to book
his assailants.
Catholic Church Priest, Joseph Mwang’amba (60) of the Machui Parish in Zanzibar made the call from his hospital bed yesterday in Dar es Salaam where he is admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital.
The assault on the priest occurred in Zanzibar recently as he walked out of an internet café in the Mlandege Area.
“Despite the fact that there have been several of these incidents in Zanzibar, only one person has been arrested so far…” he lamented and demanded to know “…what is the government doing? It should take quick and immediate measures” he urged.
Fr Mwang’amba was responsible for a youth care centre at Cheju which is operated by a Catholic Church and while his health is improving, his spirit, as is the case with many others, is dampened.
Following these incidents which have sent shock waves throughout the Christian community, it is reported that people in Zanzibar are living in fear of their lives.
Urban West Regional Police Commander Mkadam Khamis Mkadam said in a telephone interview recently that they are working hard to nab the perpetrators but so far no arrests have been made.
It is feared also that the attacks are religious based since most of them have targeted religious leaders with the latest priest adding to the list of attacked clerics.
But, two political figures have also being victims of the acid attacks, one is the Zanzibar Municipal Director, Rashid Ali Juma, another is Mohamed Kidevu, a local government official (sheha) for Chumbuni area.
Also, only recently, two foreigners, British volunteers also became victims of attack following that incident the government, through the police force issued a 100m/- bounty for information leading to the arrest of those involved.
However most of the attacks have been on clerics, here are only a few examples in which lives were lost. Last year during the visit of Papal Nuncio, apostolic representative of the Holy, a bomb was thrown into the Olasiti parish in Arusha where Bishop Josephat Lebulu was officiating mass.
There were several fatalities.
Padre Evarist Mushi of Minara Miwili Catholic church in Mtoni, Zanzibar was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen earlier this year on the 17th of February.
Two other priests were attacked this time by firearms, the first being Padre Ambrose Mkenda who was shot on Christmas Day last day and in February this year, Padre Evaristus Mushi was shot dead.
The attacks have also targeted Muslim leaders, like Sheikh Fadhil Suleiman Soraga who was badly scarred by an acid attack last year.
Catholic Church Priest, Joseph Mwang’amba (60) of the Machui Parish in Zanzibar made the call from his hospital bed yesterday in Dar es Salaam where he is admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital.
The assault on the priest occurred in Zanzibar recently as he walked out of an internet café in the Mlandege Area.
“Despite the fact that there have been several of these incidents in Zanzibar, only one person has been arrested so far…” he lamented and demanded to know “…what is the government doing? It should take quick and immediate measures” he urged.
Fr Mwang’amba was responsible for a youth care centre at Cheju which is operated by a Catholic Church and while his health is improving, his spirit, as is the case with many others, is dampened.
Following these incidents which have sent shock waves throughout the Christian community, it is reported that people in Zanzibar are living in fear of their lives.
Urban West Regional Police Commander Mkadam Khamis Mkadam said in a telephone interview recently that they are working hard to nab the perpetrators but so far no arrests have been made.
It is feared also that the attacks are religious based since most of them have targeted religious leaders with the latest priest adding to the list of attacked clerics.
But, two political figures have also being victims of the acid attacks, one is the Zanzibar Municipal Director, Rashid Ali Juma, another is Mohamed Kidevu, a local government official (sheha) for Chumbuni area.
Also, only recently, two foreigners, British volunteers also became victims of attack following that incident the government, through the police force issued a 100m/- bounty for information leading to the arrest of those involved.
However most of the attacks have been on clerics, here are only a few examples in which lives were lost. Last year during the visit of Papal Nuncio, apostolic representative of the Holy, a bomb was thrown into the Olasiti parish in Arusha where Bishop Josephat Lebulu was officiating mass.
There were several fatalities.
Padre Evarist Mushi of Minara Miwili Catholic church in Mtoni, Zanzibar was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen earlier this year on the 17th of February.
Two other priests were attacked this time by firearms, the first being Padre Ambrose Mkenda who was shot on Christmas Day last day and in February this year, Padre Evaristus Mushi was shot dead.
The attacks have also targeted Muslim leaders, like Sheikh Fadhil Suleiman Soraga who was badly scarred by an acid attack last year.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
