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Tanzanian MP survives assassination attempt

Tanzanian Member of Parliament for Simanjiro, Christopher Ole Sendeka.

By Amina Wako | 30 Mar 2024

The MP retaliated, returning fire and prompting the assailants to momentarily retreat, allowing him to escape unscathed.

A Tanzanian Member of Parliament for Simanjiro, Christopher Ole Sendeka, narrowly escaped death after unknown gunmen attacked his vehicle.

The attempted assassination occurred on Friday evening, March 29, 2024, in the Ndaleta area of Kiteto District, as Ole Sendeka and his driver were en route to his constituency.

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Describing the chilling encounter, Ole Sendeka told The Citizen, "There was a car following us from behind, we slowed down to let them pass on the right side. When they were right next to us, they started shooting at the driver, and then they drove ahead and began shooting at us from the front.

Neither he nor his driver sustained injuries, though their vehicle bore multiple bullet holes.

The MP retaliated, returning fire and prompting the assailants to momentarily retreat, allowing him to escape unscathed. Despite the ordeal, Ole Sendeka remains undeterred, stating, "It's also not easy to identify the perpetrators in such situations."

The incident has reignited concerns over political violence in Tanzania, particularly in the wake of the 2017 assassination attempt on opposition member Tundu Lissu, which left him permanently disabled.

In response to the assassination attempt, Tanzanian authorities have initiated an investigation, deploying ballistic experts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack.

“Immediately after receiving the report of the incident, the police started an investigation. A team of ballistic experts from the head office of Dodoma was sent to investigate the incident together with the Manyara Police,” reads part of the statement.

The ruling party (CCM) recognizes Ole Sendeka as a prominent figure for his staunch advocacy on behalf of the Maasai community. He has actively voiced concerns regarding the Maasai's recent challenges, particularly in areas such as Manyara, Ngorongoro, and Loliondo.

These struggles revolve around issues such as the conversion of land into game reserves, the confiscation of livestock, and the displacement of the Maasai from their ancestral territories.