Mtwara villagers lynch suspect
HARRIET KIAMA in Mtwara
Daily News; Friday,September 05, 2008 @08:36


FIVE people have died in different incidents in Mtwara Region in the past two weeks, including a woman who was attacked by an elephant and a man who was battered to death and his body burnt after being suspected of attempting to steal from a shop.

Regional Police Commander Ephrahim Mrema has said that the woman, Saidina Ali (45), a farmer in Lemesule Village in Nanyumbu District, was attacked by an elephant as she walked to a nearby village. Her body was found in a forest the following day.

According to Mr Mrema, the elephant that attacked Saidina could be one of the elephants that had wandered out of a game reserve in search of water. The area has been hit by a severe drought.

On August 29, Moshi Mussa (26) of Njengwa Village in Mtwara Rural District was battered to death and his body burnt by a rowdy angry mob that suspected him of trying to steal after breaking and entering into a shop owned by a woman, one Ulamwike.

Mr Mrema said Ulamwike is being held by police following the incident.

A Masasi resident, Ahmad Jalas (30), of Nangomwa Village, died on August 28 after being stabbed in the stomach by a villagemate, Juma Jaliwaya (28).

According to the RPC, the two were drunk when they engaged in a fight that culminated in the stabbing of Jalas. The suspected killer escaped immediately after the incident. Police are searching for him.

Another Masasi resident, who is known by one name of Chaku, killed Saimon Hassan (21), a resident of Temeke in Dar es Salaam, who was on a visit.

The RPC said Chaku was stabbed in the neck with a machette in Marokopareni Village on the night of August 25.

Mr Mrema said the source of disharmony which ended up in the killing is not known and that the suspect ran away after the incident.

In the last incident, Said Twarib (20) of Makondeko Village in Newala District, was bashed to death and his body burnt by an angry mob who suspected him of stealing a chicken, property of Jafu Hatibu (60), a farmer in Makondeko village.

The incident occurred in the evening of August 21. The RPC said Hatibu is being questioned by police in connection with the death.