BY DICKSON NG`HILY
9th January 2013
Charge that little is being done to track killers Police: We`ve made arrests, urge cooperation
Failure to arrest perpetrators of the ongoing fetish killings of women in Musoma and Butiama districts in Mara Region has spread fear, affecting economic activities.
The contract killers target women and girls whose body parts are cut off and used in witchcraft in the belief that they attract wealth, especially in mining and the fishing industries.
It is said that the head and private parts of women and girls are being used by both miners and fishermen in rituals aimed at enabling them, to make rich finds of minerals or huge catches when fishing.
Most women interviewed here live in constant fear, have scaled back their participation in economic activities, especially those running late into the night.
Mwajuma Mtongoli a resident of Makoko in Musoma District said: “The inaction on the part of the police force is partly responsible for the killings, as up to now I have heard of no one being arrested in connection with the killings.”
“The situation makes us live in constant fear. Most of us are afraid to engage in economic activities, some of which run into the night,” she said.
Mtongoli who sells fried fish along Majita Road, told this reporter that her business sells well from 7.00 to 9.00 pm, but since she lives far from where she conducts her business, she is forced to leave for home at 7.00 pm.
“I live far from where I am working, about 15 kilometres away, so sometime I leave this place at 7.00 pm which is the best time to sell…I wish I had someone who could accompany me…I would have remained up to late hours, but I dare not,” she lamented.
For her part, Nyanjige Maregesi resident of Nyegina Ward in Butiama district said: “I am a bar attendant and as you know, we sell more during the night. But the situation has forced us to close early for our safety.”
She condemned the authorities for not taking the matter seriously by hunting down those involved in the acts of killing innocent people who can’t even defend themselves.
Maregesi told this paper that before the killings she used to sell six to seven crates of beer per night, but now she only sells two, as she has to leave for home early.
The situation has negatively affected her economic welfare, she said, adding that she might fail to pay fees for her daughter Nyamlibho Maregesi at Nyegina Secondary School.
For her and her family, life is no longer normal. “I live with my daughter and since we are not sure of our safety, we live in fear and this has made me develop hypertension. My heart beats faster especially when I hear a knock on my door…we are so scared, we have placed our fate in the hands of God,” she said.
“I am shocked when I see eighteen armed policemen coming to my place to arrest me simply because I am selling illegal liquor (gongo) and marijuana….I know it is illegal, but a simple me they come with guns, yet they leave killers free?”
This paper also noticed a Land Cruiser-pickup carrying eighteen armed policemen, who were arresting commuter drivers, apparently for operating without valid licences, as well as those selling the illicit drink and marijuana.
Magoti Mwijarubi a resident of Suguti-Kwikonero in Butiama district, said: “It is true that men can walk free without fear because they are not the target. But the truth is that we also fear because we do have wives and daughters…we would not like them to lose their lives.”
This paper tried to reach Mara Regional Police Commander (RPC) for clarification but in vain as his phone went unanswered. However a police officer who preferred anonymity, said that they are working hard on the matter.
“Although the public does not fully cooperate with us, we are working hard to make sure that those involved in killing innocent people are arrested to face the wrath of the law…we won’t rest or sleep until we have taken them to court and seen justice prevailing,” he said.
According to him the killers who are known as Makhirikhiri here, have devised a new method, making it hard to trace them. “Previously, they would kill and leave the body on the ground…now after killing and taking parts, they bury the body. This has made it harder to discover the killings,” he said.
“We need people to cooperate with the police by alerting us on anything unusual, so that we can act immediately. We want people to live and conduct their businesses in peace and harmony.”
Media reports indicate that so far police have arrested four people in connection with one incident and are investigating other incidents.
Nevertheless, Vicent Nyerere MP for Musoma Urban, told our reporter in a text message that the district authority should seek help to stop the killings.
“The DC and the government at large are hiding the truth. People are dying…let them acknowledge the problem in order to get help that would enable them to trace the killers,” he said.
Reports of the killings began surfacing about four months ago, with the authority in Mara Region as well as the police being blamed for failing to arrest the perpetrators.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
No comments :
Post a Comment