| Anguish as small arms are torched in Bukoba town | Send to a friend |
| Friday, 28 May 2010 10:38 |
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There was anguish and anger as a victim of armed banditry, a Standard Six boy, turned up at the Africa Day marked in Bukoba on Tuesday through the destruction of small arms and light weapons. Master Erick Julius is partly paralysed due to gun shots he received at the hands of armed bandits in Ngara District, Kagera Region, three years ago. The boy narrated his shocking testimony to hundreds of people who had turned up at the event organised by the East African Community (EAC). Erick was shot on the head by the bandits in a lorry ambush in his home district in 2007. As a result of the attack, the boy could not continue with his studies for four years, and is partly paralysed. He was among several victims of armed violence who gave their testimonies during the AU Day which was marked in Bukoba this week through the destruction of over 2,600 illegal weapons. Mostly combat guns and other firearms, the weapons were recovered from or voluntarily surrendered by civilians and refugees residing in the region. The occasion highlighted that security and peace were key prerequisites in the deepening regional integration process in East Africa and the need to address insecurity in the Great Lakes region in general. According to Mr Owora Richard-Othieno, the acting head of EAC department of corporate communications and public affairs, the public destruction of the illicit arms is an on-going exercise in the partner states being spearheaded by the EAC Secretariat. "This is part of regional efforts to eliminate the proliferation of illicit arms and light weapons. It highlights how they could seriously impact on regional integration by undermining peace, security and stability," he said. During the event, which was also in commemoration of the African Union’s 2010 Year of Peace and Security, testimonies from seven victims of illicit SALWs were heard by a vividly stunned crowd at the Gymkhana grounds. At the event several victims of the violent attacks called for national and regional strategies to fight illicit SALWs in East Africa. The victims were mostly innocent civilians, including women and children. “The EAC leaders should co-operate and find solutions to this critical and growing problem of illicit arms in East African countries,” pleaded another victim of banditry attack identified as Corporal Jonas from Ngara. Another resident of the area, who narrowly escaped death at the hands of trigger happy gunmen in Kagera Region, Petro Muzole,69, recommended that EAC member countries should shun leaders who encourage violence and insecurity. The chief guest at the event was the deputy minister for Home Affairs, Ambassador Hamis Kagasheki, who stated that in the absence of peace, all social and economic activities were bound to suffer. “No development can be achieved or sustained in an insecure environment,” he said. Ambassador Kagasheki, who is also the Bukoba Urban MP, called for competency testing and stringent conditions for private individuals acquiring weapons legally. Ms Beatrice Kiraso, the EAC deputy secretary general (Political Federation), commended Tanzania’s recent decision to grant citizenship to 162,000 Burundi refugees, saying EA states should emulate the Tanzanian commitment to peace and stability. She added that by granting citizenship to the refugees Tanzania was also showing its commitment to regional integration. She stressed that security was a collective responsibility of all responsible agencies in the five partner states as well as individuals. ‘’Without peace, security and good neighbourliness we cannot talk of successful integration,’’ she pointed out. The event was attended by Bukoba DC Samuel Kamote, DCP Issaya Mugulu on behalf of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Saidi Mwema as well as representatives from ministries of Home Affairs from the partner states. Officials of the EAC secretariat along with its institutions such as the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation, were also in attendance. On April 17, 2010, the EAC carried out a similar public destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons in Bujumbura, Burundi, while launching activities of the African Union Year of Peace. To date, under the EAC- SALW programme, the five partner states have destroyed more than 12,000 small arms and 600 tonnes of ammunition and explosives in an attempt to make EAC secure and peaceful for its people and investments. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
