Pages

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Zanzibar Police hunt for gang that torched CUF branch offices

ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar
AS police in Zanzibar intensifies search for a gang behind torching and destroying of Civic United Front (CUF) party branch in Dunga village, in South Unguja Region, leaders of the party have threatened to take law into their own hands.

“We have suffered a lot since the end of the controversial elections last October. Our followers are beaten and our offices ‘ambushed’ and damaged by an armed gang, yet the police has done nothing to stop it.
It is high time we allow our youths to respond to protect our lives and properties,” CUF leaders warned.
The CUF leaders: Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, Deputy Secretary General and Mr Hamad Masoud Hamad, Director, Mass Communication and publicity issued the threat after the party branch in Dunga village was invaded last Tuesday night by an armed gang (nicknamed Zombi), damaging the local office and its properties.
“We are becoming impatient just because the law enforcers have done nothing to control the situation. Some of our followers and properties are being targeted by the gang, as we get closer to the March 20 elections,” Mr Hamad lamented.
At least four local offices or branches (popular as Barza) have been damaged since last October, and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has also faced similar problems of some unknown people torching their branches (best known as Maskani) in various parts of Unguja and Pemba.
South Region Police Commander (RPC), Mr Juma Saad said the incident of attack on CUF party branch at Dunga was reported and an investigation continues to arrest the suspected criminals.
“We ask CUF leaders and whoever with evidence to provide assistance in arresting the criminals. We ask them to be patient as we work on the issue.
Taking law in own hands is against the law,” Mr Saad said adding that they need to investigate carefully. The RPC said that so far, no suspect has been arrested, but the hunt continues

No comments:

Post a Comment