Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (Dar es Salaam)
Dar es Salaam — The
Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) condemns the arrest
of journalist Joseph Gandye, who is the production editor and associate
head of Watetezi TV.
Gandye has been
arrested today on 22nd August, 2019, after receiving a call from a
police officer
who identified himself by the name Godfrey Mkude, who
wanted the journalist to go to Urafiki police station for an
interrogation.
After his statement
was taken before Advocate Jones Sendodo, his bail application was
rejected on the grounds that his arrest order came from Iringa and that
Urafiki police station is just having him under temporary custody until
he is transferred to Iringa for further procedures.
On 17th June, 2019
Watetezi TV (an online media) reporters received a report on degrading
acts towards suspects at Mafinga police station in Iringa region.
After receiving the
report, journalist Joseph Gadye travelled to Iringa to keenly
investigate on the matter and on 9th August, 2019, Watetezi TV reported
the incident on police brutality at Mafinga police station in Iringa
region on its platforms (Facebook, Twitter and You Tube Channel).
In the incident, it
is alleged that six young men (confidentiality is observed) residents
of Mafinga, were arrested and tortured by police officers and were
reportedly battered and forced to commit sodomy against each other while
at the police station.
The six suspects
were arrested by the police force on 19th May, 2019 and detained for
about 10 days at the police station in Mafinga, where allegedly they
were beaten and forced to commit sodomy against each other in front of
police officers during interrogations.
After Watetezi TV
issued its first report on the cruelty on 9th August, 2019, the police
force in Iringa via the Regional Police Commander (RPC), ACP Juma Bwire,
denied the report and claimed that it is a Sedition that aims at
degrading the police force and defame the government in general.
“The Iringa
regional police force warns the people who issue false and misleading
reports that aim at degrading the Tanzanian police force and the
government as a whole. Thus, we warn people with such conducts to stop
immediately. Moreover, I have ordered the chief intelligence officer to
follow up on people who are misleading and reporting false information.
Once they are caught legal action shoud be taken. We continue to track
various information aired online. Thus, the one who will be discovered
will face strict legal measures”, said RPC Bwire in his press statement
on 14th August, 2019.
Today, 22nd August,
2019, Watetezi TV journalist, Joseph Gandye, who published the news was
supposed to report at Urafiki police station, Dar es Salaam, for an
interrogation.
Gandye who received a phone call at around 11:20a.m reported at the station and waited for more than 2 hours.
Finally the Journalist was interrogated before Advocate Jones Sendodo for sedition contrary to the Cyber Crime, 2015.
Journalist Joseph
Gandye has been officially detained at Urafiki police station in Dar es
Salaam. The centre’s head said he could not grant bail for he has no
jurisdiction as he has been arrested by a police officer from Iringa.
The Iringa Police force is arranging Joseph Gandye’s transfer to Iringa.
It will be recalled
that this is the Journalist who reported on the pupil, Hosea Manga, who
was punished by a teacher until his vertebrate was broken in Njombe
region.
He also reported
about the police injustice in Loliondo and through the report at
Watetezi TV, the Minister for Home Affairs, Kangi Lugola, was able to
follow up the issue and act on it.
Journalist Joseph
Gandye is not only among prominent journalists but also a good producer
of human rights classes programme aired live every Friday at 16:00hrs
from Watetezi TV Studios.
OUR CALL TO POLICE FORCE IN MAFINGA
- To adhere to all rights accorded to a suspect, not to be tortured or harassed
- The right to bail should be granted as the offense he is charged with is bailable
- An investigation should be conducted on humiliation and human rights abuses committed against the suspects at that police station.
- Letting journalists perform their activities without frequent arrests.
#FreeJosephGandye
Issued by:
Onesmo Olengurumwa, National Coordinator of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC)
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