Ukonga residents, police clash brings business to standstill

Dar es Salaam. Businesses came to a standstill for six hours at Mombasa-Mazizini in Ukonga suburb, Dar es Salaam, yesterday after residents blocked the road in protest of an incident where police officers reportedly beat civilians.

Some of the residents told The Citizen that pandemonium started three days ago when law enforcers started beating up residents, believing they were behind the death of a police officer at Mombasa-Mazizini.

One of the residents, Mr Julius Mawimbi said: “We do not know who killed the police officer but people here have been beaten and their businesses closed.”

Mr Mawimbi said he was surprised at the way innocent civilians were being beaten by the police—who were in fact required to protect them.

During the fracas, at least twenty people were injured. The Citizen camped at the scene of the incident and witnessed people being arrested, some complaining of having lost their luggage.

Another resident, Mr Hamid Mbaraka, said: “I am one of the people who have been beaten…yesterday I went to the police post at Mazizini to file for PF3, but law enforcers there asked me to go to Stakishari Station which is far from the incident area.”

He said: “We now live in fear. We want the government to intervene.”

However, Ilala District Commissioner Sofia Mjema who arrived at the scene yesterday directed all police officers to leave the area.

Ms Mjema asked those who were injured to list their names and register their complaints. She also asked them to name the police officers who beat them so that disciplinary measures could be taken.