BY MWINYI SADALLAH
5th January 2013
Police in Zanzibar have offered a TSh5 million reward to anyone who will provide information leading to arrest of person or persons who threw acid on the Mufti Secretary Sheikh Fadhil Soraga and shooting of Padre Ambrose Mkenda late evening on Christmas Day.
Isles Police Commissioner Mussa Ali Mussa made this announcement at a press conference at Ziwani police headquarters here yesterday, where he said the police will issues the reward for anyone helping the police to arrest assailants of religious officials, at Tsh5 million for either event.
He however noted that two persons were already helping the police with investigations following the shooting of PadreMkenda, who continues to be admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital.
Sheikh Soraga suffered acid attack thrown by assailants when doing physical exercises at Magogoni Msumbiji in Zanzibar municipality, while Padre Mkenda was shot when returning home at Tomondio in the municipality after day-long Xmas activities.
He said police are continuing with pursuing followers of Uamsho religious group who orchestrated riots, damaged property and killing an FFU police officer earlier on October 19.
About 10 leaders of JUMIKI, a community organisation for awareness and public preaching, were arrested and charged with destruction of property and endangering national security.
He said in the past week the police had recovered 20 bombs for blasting buildings or in stone quarrying activities, urging residents to strengthen community police activities in their areas.
Reviewing the work of the police force in the Isles over the past year, ACP Mussa saida there were successes and challenges arising from the use of technology in fighting crime.
Murder cases came down by 11 per cent, rape by 0.6 per cent, robberies by 5.2 per cent, thefts by 46 per cent and offences related to intoxicating drugs by 4 per cent. Road traffic offences declined by 4.9 per cent, while arson slid by half. Including the torching of prayer houses, he stated.
He said police equipments and infrastructure faced challenges as the economy no longer relies on coconuts and cloves but mainly tourism, where the leading tourist spots were located on the coastline, away from direct police gaze.
He urged the government to speed up modernization of police equipment, locating more police posts near tourist spots as well as housing facilities for police officers near those operational areas.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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