MOI spokesperson, Almasi Jumaa
Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) medical
doctors are yet to say what inflicted the wounds on the Secretary of the
Council of Muslim Organisations in Tanzania, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda
who is receiving treatment at the hospital.
Ponda was admitted to MOI on Sunday morning after sustaining serious
injuries allegedly after Police in Morogoro shot him on Saturday.
Fresh updates released by MOI spokesperson, Almas Jumaa yesterday said
that doctors at the institution were yet to say what caused the injuries
on Ponda’s right arm.
“X-ray pictures showed two fractures on his injured arm, forcing doctors to undertake major surgery on the wounds,” he said.”
“Sheikh Ponda is undergoing treatment after the surgery performed on him yesterday (Sunday),” he added.
In another development the Dar es Salaam Regional Tanzania Muslim
Council (BAKWATA) has condemned the alleged attack on Ponda by police in
Morogoro, calling for the establishment of an independent committee to
probe the matter.
Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Sheikh Alhad Mussa
Salum said Bakwata also wants immediate resignation of the Morogoro
Regional Police Commander, ACP Faustine Shilogile for issuing
controversial information.
“Of course, if Sheikh Ponda was shot by police and the RPC has been
refuting the claims, then he needs to resign to pave a way for an
independent committee to investigate what transpired,” he said.
“We have been shocked by the news. If the police force is responsible
then it is endangering the welfare of our country,” he complained.
According to him, Sheikh Ponda was not a gangster. The Police have
skills to find and nab criminals, which they could have applied to catch
him instead on hunting him in public meetings.
He told reporters that, there was neither conflict nor misunderstanding
between Bakwata and Sheikh Ponda. They only differed in ideas and
thoughts.
He said for example, while Bakwata was in support of forming auxiliary
security organs within various mosques, Sheikh Ponda was against idea.
“We are planning to visit him in hospital for he is our fellow leader,” Sheikh Salum added.
SIX human rights defenders yesterday issued a strong statement calling
on the government to dissolve the committee formed by the police force
to investigate the attack on Ponda because they have no faith in it.
They proposed the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRGG) to oversee the investigation.
The move comes two days after the Muslim cleric Sheikh Issa Ponda was
injured in Morogoro region on Saturday as his followers moved to thwart
efforts by police to arrest him.
The six non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which made the remarks
include: the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders-Coalition (THRD), Legal and
Human Right Centre (LHRC), Sikika, Tanzania Gender Network Program
(TGNP), Citizen Politic Watch (CPW) and Tanzania Media and Women
Association (TAMWA).
Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam on behalf of other NGOs Tanzania
Human Rights Defenders-Coalition (THRD) Onesmo Ole Ngurumwa underscored
that it will not be fair for an offender to investigate himself over an
incident he is alleged to have committed.
Ngurumwa said their major concern is that there will be total secrecy in the investigative report.
“Our concern is because there have been many committees formed some of
them even included people claimed to have colluded in the same
incidents, thus resulting to failure to giving proper answers and
eventually the public is not told the truth regarding the whole matter,
but instead what is disseminated is false information,” he stressed.
He said that they do condemn the way police wanted to arrest Ponda
saying that the situation could have also endangered their lives,
followers and Ponda.
Citizen Politic Watch (CPW) Director Marcossy Albanie said that the
government has to put efforts and oversee the force’s role in Morogoro
region, for this is not the first incident of such nature.
Sikika Executive Director Irene Kiria pointed out that apart from
condemning what happened to Ponda, she wants the police not to defend
themselves, but explain clearly what happened and apologise to Ponda and
the public.
State Attorney Tumaini Kweka explained to The Guardian in a telephone
interview that the act by the police to search and finally arrest the
controversial Muslim leader Sheikh Ponda was to implement a court order.
“If the police force noticed that Sheikh Ponda went against the court
directives, they are legalised to search for him without seeking further
warrant from the court of law,” he said.
Ponda was being sought by police for allegedly violating terms of his
punishment issued by the court by organising provocative religious
gatherings.
He had 86 pellets of heroin, 134 of bhang
