JUBILATION gripped Ngara town yesterday as ten out of 21 drivers from Tanzania who were kidnapped by the Mai Mai rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arrived safely in the country.
One among the drivers, Charles
Mwaselela, told the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ in a telephone interview
that they were in good health. “We thank God that we are safe and back
in our country.
We also thank the government for the
tireless efforts that facilitated our release,” he said. He named the
other drivers who arrived safely in Ngara town as Erasto Mbano, Athanas
Mtenzi, Daudi Kondo, Joshua Kabogo and Cassim Njale.
Others are Michael Lwambano, Salim
Kiandiko and Peter Mmary. According to Mr Mwaselela, the Mai Mai rebels
captured 21 Tanzanian drivers and three Kenyans and seized 24 lorries.
“The rebels attacked ruthlessly when we
arrived at Lulimba area spraying bullets in all directions. They
destroyed most of the properties including excavators. They also stole
all the money we had in our possession,” he narrated.
Nine among the 21 Tanzanian drivers who
were rescued by DRC government forces were taken to Baraka town. The
convoy was heading to Banro Gold Mine carrying a consignment of various
goods including mining machinery which were either destroyed or stolen
by the rebels.
The abducted drivers were heading to
Canadian Banro Gold owned Namoya Mine in Mainiema Province. Of the 24
drivers, 21 were Tanzanians, working with Alistair Cargo Transport
Company and Prime Fuels, while the other three were Kenyans.
The drivers narrated horrible stories
happening in the DRC. “People were being killed ruthlessly while women
are raped and houses torched,” Mwaselela said. He appealed to the
government to temporarily halt movement of transporters, businessmen and
goods to DRC until the condition stabilises.
The government announced yesterday that
the released drivers remain stranded in the vast country for their
captors freed them on condition that they leave their cars, money and
other belongings behind.
“Measures taken by the government
through the Embassy in DRC included requesting the Kinshasa government
to assist the released drivers with security,” Head of Communications in
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ms Mindi
Kasiga, told reporters in Dar es Salaam, yesterday.
She added, “We have also emphasised the
ongoing armed forces (FARDC) operations against Mai-Mai rebels to
identify the location of these drivers and know their status and level
of security threat in the area.
“Apart from fear of being hurt by the
ongoing operations between FARDC and the MaiMai rebels, there is also
the fear of these drivers being used as shields against attack from the
government armed forces,” she noted.
The spokesperson further said that the
Tanzanian Embassy in DRC was requesting appointment with the Minister
for Defence and head of UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in DRC or
MONUSCO to discuss the matter and engage their authority as soon as
possible.
Mai-Mai rebels, on June 29, this year,
kidnapped 24 truck drivers in DRC. The abduction occurred at Lulimba
area, roughly 100 kilometres from Baraka town, South Kivu Province.
According to the Tanzanian Embassy in
DRC, Mai-Mai rebels attacked FARDC soldiers escorting the convoy of
trucks, robbed the drivers of all their money, destroyed some trucks,
pierced tires and broke mirrors.
This is not the first time Tanzanian
drivers are getting into trouble in DRC for a similar incident happened
last September when four trucks were confiscated and eight drivers
abducted by the rebel group.
Mai-Mai rebels, who spray themselves
with ‘magic water to protect themselves against bullets’ are essentially
self-defence militias formed on an ad-hoc basis by local leaders who
arm young men in villages, often along ethnic lines.
No comments :
Post a Comment