Abducted Dar resident found abandoned and injured miles from home

Dar es Salaam. Edgar Mwakabela (27), also known as Sativa, a resident of Mbezi in Ubungo district, who was reported missing on June 23, 2024, has been found in Katavi region with injuries.

Initially, reports spread on social media indicating that Mwakabela was found yesterday in a forest in Katavi region in poor condition, requesting help to be taken to a hospital.

Katavi Regional Police Commander, Kaster Ngonyani, told The Citizen that Mwakabela was found in the morning in Katavi Reserve.

“We received information from people who found an injured person unable to move in Katavi Reserve. Officers arrived at the scene and questioned him. He said he was taken by some people to Arusha, where they beat him until he lost consciousness. When he woke up, he found himself in the forest, struggling to drag himself to the road where he was found by residents,” said Ngonyani.

Commander Ngonyani added that they are awaiting medical tests to determine the cause of Mwakabela's injuries. Mwakabela was found bleeding from the head and with swollen legs.

He was initially taken to Kibaoni Health Center but, due to his condition, was transferred to Tupindo District Hospital.

Patrick Israel, speaking to this newspaper, said his younger brother was taken on June 23 after receiving a phone call from a friend who wanted to meet him.

“After leaving Coco Beach, Mwakabela, who was at my house in Msewe, communicated with his friend, told me he was leaving, and that was the last time we communicated with him by phone,” said Israel.

He said that night he called Mwakabela but couldn’t reach him and didn’t worry, thinking it was normal for someone to be unreachable.

However, he called Edgar unsuccessfully on Monday morning and afternoon, assuming he was still asleep.

He grew concerned when other relatives and friends also couldn't reach Edgar, and upon contacting Edgar's friend, learned he hadn't shown up.

Efforts were made to search for him in various places, including police stations and hospitals, without success until yesterday when they received information that he was found in Katavi region.

“According to the doctors, he is doing well after initial treatment. I don’t know what’s behind this incident because my brother has no issues with anyone. I’ve lived with him for a long time before he started living independently,” he said.

Regarding bringing Mwakabela to Dar es Salaam for further treatment, he said, “The matter of coming here hasn’t been clarified due to the patient's condition, but also this issue is more governmental.”

Earlier, a video posted on the X platform (formerly Twitter) showed Mwakabela in the forest being questioned by people who do not appear in the video, explaining that he had head injuries and was bleeding from his face.

“Please help me, my head hurts, they beat me a lot, my legs are swollen,” he was heard saying in the video.

The opposition party ACT-Wazalendo has called for strong measures to stop abduction incidents.

In a public statement, ACT-Wazalendo Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Dahlia Majid, stated that Tanzanians are beginning to fear again due to recent incidents of people disappearing and being tortured.

“It is also disheartening to see the relevant authorities not taking swift action against those involved in these incidents. We strongly condemn the increase in these incidents without strong measures being taken,” she said.

“ACT-Wazalendo has taken steps to return Sativa to Dar es Salaam by plane for urgent and specialized treatment, but we want a swift investigation to identify those involved in Mwakabela’s abduction,” she added.

Earlier this year, The Citizen reported a series of incidents where people were allegedly abducted or disappeared under mysterious circumstances at different times.

Among these were cases that emerged at public meetings held by the former CCM Secretary of the Central Committee of Ideology, Publicity, and Training, Paul Makonda.

These incidents started to emerge in 2021 and continued, causing public alarm, with citizens complaining about the Police Force’s responsibility for protecting people and their property.

Among these incidents was the abduction of Innocent Elias Liveti (34), also known as Macheni, a businessman and phone technician in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam.

Liveti was sitting in front of his shop on Narung'ombe Street when two men wearing hats appeared, took him inside a car, and drove off with him.

Another incident involved the abduction of businessman Mussa Mziba (37), who owned Mziba Empire Investment Ltd with offices in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam.

Mziba was abducted by two people who came to his office at 10:00 pm on December 7, 2023, identifying themselves as police officers.

These incidents were preceded by the disappearance of Charles Wetinyi, who was allegedly arrested by people identifying themselves as police officers in Mugumu, Serengeti district, Mara region on October 23, 2023.