Dismissed Mafia district executive director probed in alleged sexual scandal

Dar es Salaam. Former Mafia district executive director Kassim Ndumbo is being probed by police in Rufiji, Coast Region, for allegedly having sexual relations with an underage domestic worker (name withheld).

The move comes hours after President Samia Suluhu Hassan revoked his appointment on April 18, 2024, while in Turkey.

However, the statement announcing his dismissal, issued by the presidential communications director, Ms Zuhura Yunus, did not specify the reason.

However, information obtained by Mwananchi, The Citizen's sister publication, suggests that Mr Ndumbo may have had an affair with his housegirl, which became apparent when his wife found out.

Rufiji Special Zone Regional Police Commander Protas Mutayoba confirmed the incident, saying they have started investigating the matter.

“We have started investigating the allegation. He is suspected of engaging in sexual activities with his former housegirl,” he told Mwananchi over the phone.

“We want to complete our investigation, obtain witnesses, and find the girl because she is not in the Mafia Island. The girl is required because her statement is explicitly important in concluding everything," he added.

The police chief said the law enforcement agent has already laid down all the necessary procedures, noting that it will just be a matter of time before they proceed for the legal measures to take its course.

Efforts to reach Mr Ndumbo for comment proved futile as, at the time of posting this story, his mobile phone remained unanswered.

A Local Government Authority (LGA) leader in Mafia Island, who asked for anonymity, said: "We have heard about the allegations implicating him with unlawful affairs with the underage housemaid. The matter is being investigated by the law enforcement agency."

The officer added: "However, I’m not sure if his dismissal is related to the allegation.”

Another leader from the Mafia District Council, who also requested anonymity, said reports say Mr Ndumbo had been in a romantic relationship with his underage housemaid for a long time.

“There is a circulating video recording and screenshots showing him (Mr Ndumbo) in the room with the girl. It appears to be a setup,” he said, over the phone.

“So, it's not that the girl was raped, but they had a love relationship that existed for a long time," he continued.

Mr Ndumbo, who is a teacher by profession, was appointed as the council’s DED on July 31, 2021.

"He was appointed from Tanga, and both he and his wife are teachers. When they came here, they brought the house girl with them. So, she has been with them for a long time," added the source.

The source said the girl had been removed from their home immediately after the incident, as further reports say Mr Ndumbo has reportedly been summoned for questioning by various authorities, including the police.

"Before his dismissal, the government had taken action; for example, he was summoned for questioning by the police, and they conducted an investigation. Yesterday, he was supposed to attend the Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania (Alat) meeting in Zanzibar, but he failed to travel," said the source.

Another informant living in Mafia Island, who requested anonymity, said that Mr Ndumbo has been undergoing lengthy interrogations by the police in the district.

"Even as I speak to you (at noon), he is at the police station being questioned, but once he finishes, he goes home. The problem is the underage girl he is having an affair with," the informant claimed.

Regarding Ndumbo's wife, the informant said, "His wife left the island yesterday because of the scandal."