Dar es Salaam Police Commander Jumanne Muliro says torture story by activist Boniface Mwangi and Journalist Agatha Atuhaire from Uganda is their personal opinion. Photo: Daily News Tanzania
Dar es Salaam Police Commander Jumanne Muliro has responded on the torture story narrated by activist Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Journalist Agatha Atuhaire from Uganda in Nairobi on Monday.
Mwangi was held by Tanzanian authorities for several days along with Ugandan activist Agatha Atuhaire, who had earlier mentioned of being raped in detention.
Addressing the press in Dar es Salaam, Muliro said that the narration on the torture by Tanzania Authority while they were in detention is their opinion and perspective, and should instead report the story to the relevant authority.
“That is their own opinion and perspective. They should make it official by submitting the story to investigative authorities that they were abducted,” Muliro responded.
According to the Tanzania senior police, he would have questioned them if indeed they were in Tanzania, further insisting that he would have loved to interrogate the two, to understand what they narrated as a nightmare in the hands of his officers.
“Yani mimi naona kama ni mtazamo, maoni, if they were around, I would have questioned them, to understand what they wanted, for me it is their own opinion. I would love to understand what they are saying, but as I earlier said, that is their own opinion,” Muliro insisted.
The Tanzanian Authority has been under pressure from regional human rights groups, who have called for an investigation, including Amnesty International , which said Tanzanian authorities should be hold to account those responsible for the “inhuman” treatment.
Kenya’s Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna asked President William Ruto to withdraw his apology, and demand that Tanzania apologies instead. He further called on ban of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) leaders from coming into Kenya.
Additionally, he called for Kenya to withdraw from the joint hosting of African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, between Uganda and Tanzania, terming them dictatorial states.
His remarks coming at time when Tanzania Authority is suppressing the voices of opposition, including the Monday, night incident of police surrounding Bishop Josephat Gwajima’s church, whose operating license was cancelled, after the government claimed its preaching are a danger to the peace of the country.
Gwajima has been calling out President Samia Suluhu’s administration following increased cases of forced disappearances and abductions of those opposing her leadership, the remarks putting him in trouble with Tanzania’s authority.
