Thursday, June 2, 2016

Bunge demands report on state of national security

MASATO MASATO in Dodoma
DEPUTY National Assembly Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson

DEPUTY National Assembly Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson yesterday tasked the government to submit before the House a comprehensive report on the state of national security in the wake of increasing homicidal incidents in the country.
Dr Ackson described the situation as worrisome and wanted the government to give a detailed explanation on the happenings. She was particularly referring to the beheading of eight people at Kibatini in Amboni area near Tanga City.
Mr Kangi Lugola (Mwibara - CCM), asked for the Speaker’s guidance, demanding explanation from the government on the loss of innocent souls, the episode he described as pure terrorism.
“The Amboni killings have all the indicators of terrorism,” charged Mr Lugola, citing the confiscation of food from the victims as a sign of terrorism.
In response, the Chief Whip, Ms Jenista Mhagama, informed the House that the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Masauni Yussuf Masauni, was leading a high powered delegation to assess the situation at the scene of the crime, pleading for more time before the government comes up with a full report.
“Let us give the government ample time to complete the job … this issue is too sensitive to rush at issuing half-backed statements, which can mislead the public,” said Ms Mhagama, who is also the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and People with Disabilities. Dr Ackson granted the government’s request, asking for the MPs’ patience on the matter.
The killings took place in the post-midnight hours of Monday as killers invaded one house after another for an unknown motive.
The killers reportedly disappeared into the nearby Amboni Forest, taking with them biscuits and bags of rice they stole from a shop there. Police in the region have vowed to pursue the killers in a 24-hour operation daily until all the slaughterers are arrested and taken to court to answer murder charges.
Meanwhile, ANNA MAKANGE reports from Tanga that some residents of Kibatini Division, Mleni street, Mzizima Ward in Tanga are abandoning their homes following increased attacks, robberies and killings in the area.
Mzizima Councillor Frederick Charles Chiluba made the remarks yesterday when briefing journalists following up the recent killings of eight people by unknown assailants in the area.
Mr Chiluba said despite the assurance by the Tanga Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Martin Shigela, that security had been beefed up by police and Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) soldiers who will be conducting patrols in Kibatini and Amboni caves, the residents still feared for their lives.
“Despite the promised security in the area, there are still incidents of crime.
For instance, three weeks ago in Kibatini, unknown people slaughtered two goats, 40 chickens and one cow. But what is more worrying is the recent incidents in which eight people were brutally murdered,” he observed.
In a new development, the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Masauni Yussuf Masauni, led hundreds of Tanga residents and government officials, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ernest Mangu and Chief of Defence Forces, General Davis Mwamunyange, in the burial of victims of the Amboni attack.
The deceased include a member of Mleni Street local government, Issa Hussein (50), Mkola Hussein (40) and Hamisi Issa (20), son to the local government member and Salum Adamu, a cattle header.
The burial took place at Msambweni and Kibatini areas. On behalf of the government, speaking during the burial, Mr Masauni appealed to the families who lost their beloved ones to be patient as the government will investigate and bring to book those involved in the gruesome killings

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