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...Uproar as shot driver is buried
2006-11-07 10:12:50
By Guardian Reporter
The death by shooting of a commuter bus (daladala) driver Hassan Mbonde (33), whose bus was plying Kawe-Ubungo route in Dar es Salaam, yesterday sparked confrontation among daladala drivers at the Kawe-Tegeta junction.
The spot is where the late Hassan was allegedly shot to death on Saturday by Tabora Regional Commissioner Ukiwaona Ditopile Mzuzuri.
Yesterday’s incident led to a temporary obstruction of the road at mid-day, after a group of daladala drivers blocked the road to prevent their counterparts, still doing business inspite of an earlier agreement to stop operations as a gesture of mourning.
All daladala buses plying the Kawe-Ubungo route were supposed to halt business for the crew to attend Mbonde’s burial as a gesture of solidarity.
Interviewed drivers told The Guardian that they initially agreed to suspend activities for some hours, pending completion of the burial in Kawe.
”Some fellow drivers betrayed us. We decided to make them comply with the agreement,” said a driver.
The buses were stopped and the crew were forced to refund passengers, who were forced to disembark.
At times, due to the chaos that reigned at the junction, some jittery passengers jumped through the bus windows for fear of their lives.
However, the confusion that reigned for sometime was resolved by Kawe Officer Command Station, OCS Mwaipaisi who convinced the drivers not to take the law into their own hands.
Eyewitnesses said the police officer asked them to leave everything in the hands of the law enforcers who took charge of the exercise of stopping the daladalas and telling passengers to disembark in a drama that lasted for nearly two hours between 12 noon and 2.00pm.
Hundreds of Dar es Salaam residents yesterday attended the burial at Kawe Mzimuni cemetery where Mbonde was laid to rest.
Meanwhile, Judica Tarimo and Jane Mkonya report that a human rights group yesterday accused government officials of abuse of power and gross violation of the laws of the land.
The reaction was part of a public outcry triggered by the alleged shooting of a daladala driver by Tabora Regional Commissioner Ukiwaona Ditopile Mzuzuri, who has already made a court appearance.
The incident was talk of town in Dar es Salaam and in radio talk shows.
During a news conference, the director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre, Hellen Kijo Bisimba, called for a speedy hearing and determination of the case.
”We commend police for being quick in arresting the accused…the same spirit must be applied in the investigations and determination of the case,” she said.
LHRC likened the incident to abuse of power and deliberate violation of existing laws by senior government officials, citing a number of cases.
According to Bisimba, Songea District Commissioner once issued an order for residential houses at Nyamuma-Serengeti to be set on fire. Mbarali District Commissioner was recently reported to have slapped a village leader, she said.
”There is clear evidence that these people committed the offences, but no action had been taken against them…this connotes gross and deliberate abuse of power,” said the HLRC director.
She also said that a network of human rights Non-Government Organizations, were in the process to file a Constitutional case, challenging the constitionality of some sections over-powering the DPP.
”Our mission is to reduce powers of the DDP. Legal experts are working on the document, and in some days to come, the case would be filed at the High Court,” she said.
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