Pangani residents demand justice on 30th anniversary of Beijing Gender-Based Violence goals

Dar es Salaam. As the world nears the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration’s commitment to eradicating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the residents of Bwela Ward in Pangani, Tanga Region, have gathered in mourning and solidarity.

The community is reeling from the brutal killings of a nurse and a 40-year-old woman, both victims of gang rape and murder, crimes that continue to shake the village.

The first tragedy struck in 2021 when Leah John, a midwife from Iringa Region, was killed after finishing her shift and heading home around 9:00 pm.

Despite being murdered by three young men, all of whom were local residents, the perpetrators were set free after the community failed to cooperate with the authorities in securing justice.

Juma Khaflan, a local resident, recalled the events: “Leah John was murdered by three young men in our village. They were later released due to lack of evidence, as the villagers did not work together to ensure justice was served.”

However, the cycle of violence did not end there. One of the perpetrators, Mudi Mausi, a 17-year-old, was released following the intervention of his businesswoman aunt, Mwanajumbe Mausi.

Tragically, in August 2024, the same young men, including Mudi, returned to commit the same horrific crime, this time against Mwanajumbe Mausi, a mother of three and grandmother of two.

She was killed after being raped by the very individuals whom she had helped. Their case is currently under trial in court.

In response to the ongoing violence, a significant gathering took place in Pangani to mark 16 days of activism against GBV from November 25 to December 1.

The event was organised by Nickson Lutenda, a coordinator for multiple organisations including Femina Hip, Tariri, Amref Uzikwasa, BBC, and IUCN. He said, “We are here because of the past atrocities. The murder of the nurse and now the death of a businesswoman and mother is a glaring example of how the community failed to take action.”

Lutenda stressed the need for a collective effort to tackle GBV: “We must encourage the people of Bwela to step forward and break the silence.”

Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Ireland, Helen Counihan, highlighted the importance of working with governments to promote equality. She noted that collaboration is essential in combating GBV, stating, “When we unite, we can create change. Real progress begins with individuals saying no to GBV.”

The Assistant Director of the Gender Development Department at the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Juliana Kibonde, pointed out that many countries, including Tanzania, spend only 3.5 percent of their GDP on tackling GBV.

She stressed that this is insufficient when compared to the broader focus on women's and youth empowerment.

“We cannot make progress if we continue to ignore such critical issues,” she remarked, stressing the need for reflection as the 30th anniversary of the Beijing goals approaches.

The religious community has also spoken out, with Rev. Fr. John Chale of the Anglican Church in Pangani calling for prayer and reflection.

“Blood has been shed in Pangani, and we must pray for forgiveness and healing. A nurse came to serve the people, and yet she was brutally harmed,” he said.

The Acting Sheikh of Bakwata in Pangani, Rajabu Issa, also emphasised the importance of teaching girls self-protection to reduce GBV incidents.

“This cruelty against women, particularly mothers caring for children, is heartbreaking,” he said.

Youth Officer from Muheza District, Amiri Msuya, raised concerns about parental responsibility, pointing out that children are often subjected to or become perpetrators of GBV because their parents are too busy to monitor their activities.

Pangani Police Officer Majid Ally from the Gender Desk shared that cases are often lost because victims of GBV are intimidated or offered bribes to withdraw their complaints.

“The perpetrators go unpunished because the victims are afraid to speak out,” he said.