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Tanzanian activists demand immediate action by police over child disappearance reports
What you need to know:
- Activists claim that police typically instruct those who report child disappearance cases to wait for 24 hours before initiating investigations and search operations, however, Tanzania's police spokesperson David Misime disputes this assertion
Dar es Salaam. Human rights activists have urged the police to immediately act when child disappearance cases are reported to save innocent victims.
Police normally tell those who report such cases to wait for 24 hours before the law enforcers start investigations and search missions.
The calls to eliminate the waiting requirement come amid growing reports of child disappearances in Dar es Salaam, with some cases tragically ending in murder.
The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) national coordinator, Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa, told The Citizen that the waiting procedure should not apply to missing children, as where they are supposed to be at certain times is known.
“That waiting period is unacceptable. Children are highly vulnerable, and immediate action is crucial to ensuring their safety. Every minute counts when a child is missing, and delaying the search only increases the risk,” he said.
He termed waiting for 24 hours an “outdated practice” that needs to be re-evaluated, especially for children.
“It’s critical that the police take immediate action upon receiving a report to maximise the chances of a safe recovery,” he added.
Similarly, Dr Anna Henga, the executive director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), stated that the current 24-hour waiting period is too lengthy, as harm could already occur within that time frame.
This is particularly critical for children who are under parental care and are expected to be in specific places, such as with relatives, at school, at church or mosque, or elsewhere.
"For a child who cannot defend themselves, addressing their disappearance quickly is crucial, rather than waiting for 24 hours to pass," she emphasised.
She added that the practice is not only inefficient but also inhumane.
“We must change this procedure to protect our children,” she said.
The executive director at the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA), Dr Rose Reuben, said that the procedure poses a significant barrier to child protection.
“It ignores the reality that children are at high risk of harm if not found quickly. We must prioritise immediate responses to such emergencies,” she said.
“We should acknowledge that the first few hours are critical in any missing child case, and delaying action can severely hinder the chances of finding the child safe,” she added.
However, Police spokesperson, David Misime, revealed that the reporting party is required to leave their phone number so they can be notified easily if the child is found.
"I believe there may be some misunderstanding about this procedure," he explained. According to him, the officer receiving the report informs the officer commanding station (OCS) about the incident, providing details such as the missing person's name, age, appearance, and the clothes they were last seen wearing.
“The report is then disseminated to all police stations in the region for follow-up,” detailed Mr Misime.
He said the reporting party is given time to return to the station when the police stations exchange information about the report.
“If these initial steps do not yield results within 24 hours, further investigation is launched. That’s how we operate, not otherwise,” he said.
