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MEDDY MULISA in Bukoba

• Govt warns perpetrators of violence against children . . .

WITH cases of violence against children escalating in the country, the government has issued a strong warning to all perpetrators of the acts, including teachers who administer harsh punishments to schoolchildren, leading to injury or death.

It was the Deputy Minister of State in the President's Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr Joseph Kandege, who sounded the warning on Friday evening on behalf of President John Magufuli, during the burial of a Standard Five Kibeta Primary School Pupil held at Kitoko Village in Muleba District, Kagera Region.

Sperius Eladius (13), a Standard Five pupil was beaten up by the school’s discipline master, identified as Respicius Patrick (50), causing the child to collapse before he died later.

"On behalf of the government, I extend condolences to the bereaved family including parents and guardians of the late Sperius. He was a young boy with a bright future, but his life was cut short. Whoever was involved in this shameful act will be brought before justice," he said, donating 2m/- condolence.

According to Kagera Regional Police Commander (RPC) Augustine Ollomi, the teacher who allegedly tortured the pupil was in police custody, as police continued with investigations into the incident.

Several eye witnesses said that Patrick, who is the disciplinary teacher, allegedly used extra force by torturing the pupil to make him confess to have stolen a handbag from one of the female teachers, identified as Elieth Gerald (46).

During the torture, Patrick is alleged to have forcefully removed the victim’s nail on one of the fingers to inflict pain on him so that he could admit stealing the handbag.

According to the witnesses, as the child was being tortured a Bodaboda rider who had been hired by Elieth arrived at the school with the handbag which she had forgotten, while coming to school on Monday morning.

The doctor-in-charge of Bukoba Regional Referral Hospital, Dr John Mwombeki, told reporters that they received the body of the child at around l pm on Monday this week.

However, he said initial investigations revealed that the body had multiple wounds.

According to Dr Mwombeki, the child appeared to have wounds inflicted on him about two to three days before the day he was tortured at school, indicating that he had been subjected to corporal punishment previously.

The biological father of the late Sperius, Reverend Justus Balilemwa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church-North Western Diocese (NWD) said that the pupil’s mother died shortly after delivery in May, 2005.

“By that time, I was working at Mubunda Parish, in Muleba District. We took the child to Ntoma Orphanage where he stayed for about one year. Since then, I have been living with the child with my family.

I have been saddened by the circumstances that led to his sudden death,” he said with tears rolling down his cheeks. Meanwhile, the Kagera Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General Marco Gaguti has ordered immediate suspension of the head teacher for Kibeta Primary School, in Bukoba Municipality, identified as Henatha Izidor, to allow free investigation following the death of the pupil.

Other suspended include the deputy head teacher, Sundi Elisha and Kibeta Ward Education Officer, Hashim Upunda. Mr Gaguti also directed the Bukoba Municipal Director to form a special committee to investigate discipline at Kibeta Primary School, while the school committee has been dissolved.

He announced the decision after visiting the school. The step follows the dubious circumstances leading to untimely death of the pupil.

Minister Kandege’s warning comes amid reports indicating that violence against children has increased in the first half this year compared to the same period, last year.

The Executive Director of Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Ms Anna Henga revealed that an average of 394 children were reportedly raped across the country each month from January to June, 2018, saying that major perpetrators include relatives and nighbours.

Ms Henga said that out of 6,376 incidents of violence against children, 2,365 cases involved rape while 533 involved sodomy.....adding that sodomy incidents increased from 12 in the first half of 2017 to 533 in the first half of 2018. Such incidents are common in schools, including primary and boarding schools, she said.

In Tanzania, the Law of the Child Act, 2009 (Cap. 21) stipulates that a Child shall have the right to life, dignity, respect, leisure, liberty, health, education and shelter from his parents or guardians.

Every parent shall have duties and responsibilities whether imposed by law or otherwise towards his/her child, which include the duty to protect the child from neglect, discrimination, violence, abuse, exposure to physical and moral hazards and oppression.

Child abuse means contravention of the rights of the child which causes physical, moral or emotional harm including beatings, insults, discrimination, neglect, sexual abuse and exploitative labour.