Tanzania denies torturing Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire
Dar es Salaam’s Special Police Zone Commander, Jumanne Muliro, rubbished the claims, describing them as personal opinions that should have been addressed through official government channels.
Tanzanian authorities have denied torturing activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire, following their detention by immigration officials in Dar es Salaam.
Dar es Salaam’s Special Police Zone Commander, Jumanne Muliro, rubbished the claims, describing them as personal opinions that should have been addressed through official government channels.
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He said the activists should have formally reported any grievances to Tanzanian authorities instead of issuing a press statement detailing alleged mistreatment.
“Hayo ni maoni yao, ni mtazamo wao. Kama wanachosema ni hivyo basi waofficiate kwenye mamlaka ya kuzungumza. Yaani mimi naiona ni kama ni mtazamo, ni maoni tu. Wangekuwepo mimi ningehojiana nao,” (Those are their opinions, their perspective. If what they are saying is true, then they should officially report it to the appropriate authorities. I see it as just a viewpoint, merely an opinion. If they were here, I would have interviewed them), Muliro said.
He added that he would have preferred to engage directly with the activists to clarify their claims and ask them specific questions, which he argued could not be adequately answered by others speaking on their behalf.
“Nilitamani kama ni yeye ndiye angekuwa akiongea na mimi ili niulize vitu vingi, niwape nafasi nzuri ya kujua anaongea kitu gani. Unaongea kitu kwa niaba ya mtu ambaye baadhi ya maswali ningependa kumwuuliza yeye. Wewe nikikuuliza huwezi kujibu,” (I wished it was him speaking directly to me so that I could ask many questions and give him a good opportunity to explain what he is talking about. You are speaking on behalf of someone whom I would like to ask some questions directly. If I ask you, you won’t be able to answer), he added.
Fresh questions
The Tanzanian police response has sparked concern, particularly in light of the sensitive diplomatic relationship between Kenya and Tanzania. The apparent dismissal of the allegations by top security officials has raised fresh questions about the treatment of foreign nationals within Tanzanian borders.
Mwangi and Atuhaire were detained after arriving in Dar es Salaam to attend the first court appearance of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges
Both activists said they were blindfolded by police officers and taken to a house. They noted that while questioning them about the whereabouts of their phones and laptops, the interrogators stripped them, blindfolded them and sexually assaulted them.
The two were eventually dumped near the borders of their countries, where they crossed back home.
Meanwhile, Tanzania’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, has defended the government’s move to block the social media platform X.
Silaa said the ban was aimed at protecting Tanzanians from harmful and explicit content that violates the country’s regulations.
“Content that violates Section 16 of the Online Content Regulations is being removed to protect Tanzanians,” Silaa said.
However, digital rights advocates have condemned the move, arguing that it infringes on freedom of expression and limits public access to important information.
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