Ditopile charged with murder
 
2006-11-07 10:13:57
By Tryphone Mweji

	Tabora Regional Commissioner, Ukiwaona Ditopile Mzuzuri (L), is flanked by a plaincloth policeman as he sits at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate`s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

There was tight security at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when Tabora Regional Commissioner, Capt (Rtd) Ukiwaona Ditopile Mzuzuri, (58) was charged with the murder of a commuter bus driver.

Before Principal Resident Magistrate Michael Luguru, a calm and visibly composed Ditopile, donning a bandaged right arm was not required to enter a plea on the charge of murder.

The RC is accused of the murder of a commuter bus driver last Saturday.

The prosecution team led by Superintendent of Police (SP), Germanus Mhumi told the court that on November 4, 2006 at around 7pm, near the junction of Kawe and New Bagamoyo Road, in Kinondoni District, Ditopile shot a commuter bus driver, Hassan Mbonde, (33) killing him instantly.

Mhumi told the court that police investigations were not yet complete. He asked the court to fix a date for the mention of the case.

Other members of the prosecution team are Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Neima Mwanga and Inspector of Police, Raphael Rutahiwa.

The case has been scheduled to come up for mention on November 20, 2006.

Ditopile was brought to court at 9a.m. in a convoy of two police Land Rover jeeps, led by hawk-eyed police officers.

In the court room, Ditopile, a retired army officer and former deputy minister was flanked by police officers who attempted to conceal him from the view of photo-journalists.

The courtroom was packed by members of the public and a galaxy of journalists.

However, the defence lawyer, Dr Ringo Tenga took a swipe at a section of the media, which he said had tried and convicted his client for murder.

Dr Tenga, who is assisted by lawyers Rosan Mbwambo, Cuthbert Tenga and Michael Mapande told the court that a section of the press had even suggested that Ditopile should be hanged.

	Mourners carry the casket bearing the body of slain commuter bus driver, Hassan Mbonde at Kawe in Dar es Salaam yesterday. (Photo: Khalfan Said)

Dr Tenga asked the court to direct that his client should undergo medical treatment.

The lead counsel said Ditopile was suffering from high Blood Pressure (BP), diabetes and was nursing wounds on the right hand and head.

He protested that a section of the press had published stories that directly portrayed the Tabora regional commissioner as a guilty person in the murder case.

He said his client had been shocked by reports of some newspapers which suggested that Ditopile should be sentenced to death by hanging if found guilty.

However, Principal Resident Magistrate Michael Luguru presiding over the case defended the media saying the Fourth Estate had a cardinal and noble responsibility to provide the public with accurate information.

About preferential medical treatment, Luguru clarified that Prison authorities have a clearly laid down procedure to accord medical treatment to all inmates and other remandees.

The magistrate said Ditopile would be treated in the similar manner and procedure. The RC was therefore remanded.

• SOURCE: Guardian