Two policemen have been arraigned in Musoma charged with three counts including illegal possession of rounds of ammunition and theft.
IGP Said Mwema
Before a resident magistrate in Musoma, the duo: Sgt Michael Leus (55), attached to the Mara Regional Field Force Unit and Cpl Ally Majembe, attached to Kibaha Police Post were jointly charged for engaging in criminality while still serving the police force.
The public prosecutor, Jonathan Kaijage, told the court that their arrest was made possible at the Mohamed Transport booking office on June 1, this year, after a tip off from a passerby, after they had been trailed from afar by security personnel, while riding a motorbike.
The prosecutor alleged that on the fateful day, at around 8am, the two were arrested while in illegal possession of 1,054 rounds of ammunition packed in a bag and ready to be ferried to an undisclosed location.
He claimed that the arrest came after continuous trailing of the suspects by police officers following public outcry that the duo were collaborating with most wanted criminals in the lake zone and decided to set up a trap. They were also charged with evading their duties for criminal responsibilities, an act the prosecution claimed lowered the reputation of the police force.
The suspects were remanded in custody until when the case comes up again for another mention on June 24, this year, after failing to meet bail conditions.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Said Mwema, has awarded Bukwe Ward residents in Rorya District a special award for their efforts in fighting crime including rampant cattle rustling in the area.
The award which also carries cash prize amounting to 2mil/- was delivered on his behalf by the Tarime District Commissioner, John Henjewele, in a meeting of elders and government representatives held at Bukwe.
Henjewele also crowned the area councillor, Paul Matatta, a community policing commandant in recognition for his efforts to combat cattle rustling and his idea to establish 17 joint cattle protection camps.
Speaking during the handover, Mr Henjewele said the award has made all peace loving citizens in the area proud and pledged to other villages in the area to follow suit, urging the full support from government security organs.
According to Councillor Matatta, the introduction of the 17 cattle protection camps that houses more than 4,000 heads of cattle has scared rustlers away. He said socially organised security groups carry regular patrols in collaboration with the special police unit attached to the zonal headquarters in Tarime and any law abiding citizen who provides useful information leading to the arrest of criminals of any nature is awarded.
“We are not moving alone, we have a well organized social security network starting from family level straight to the police,” he added.
By AMBROSE WANTAIGWA, Tanzania Daily News
