Worry as body of medical doctor discovered in Tabora after disappearance

Dar es Salaam. The death of Dr Dismas Chami, a physician at Ulyankulu Health Center in Kaliuwa District, has sparked a wave of mystery and concern following the discovery of his body at Kombo Masai, Malolo Ward.

A syringe was found next to him, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.

Dr Chami, 32, left his home in Ulyankulu on Wednesday, September 2, 2024, informing his wife that he was traveling to Tabora for work and would return the next day.

However, he did not return as planned, and his phone became unreachable. His body was discovered on September 13, 2024, at 9 p.m.

Police spokesperson David Misime reported that authorities are working with forensic experts to investigate Dr Chami's death. He revealed that Dr. Chami had a history of mental health issues, including two previous suicide attempts.

“Preliminary investigations have confirmed that Dr Chami had attempted suicide on two prior occasions,” Misime stated.

Misime added that Dr Chami had notified both his supervisor and wife on September 2 that he was traveling to Tabora to address a banking matter and was expected back on September 3. When he did not return or make contact, his disappearance was reported to the police on September 10 by the Chief Medical Officer of Ulyankulu Health Center, accompanied by Dr. Chami’s wife.

As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the exact circumstances of Dr Chami's death and whether his previous mental health issues played a role. The community and those close to him await further details from the ongoing inquiry.

"On that same day, Dr Dismas Chami sent a message to his wife via WhatsApp, saying: 'I am very sorry, in a few minutes, I will no longer be in this world. Take care of everything I started. All the money is in the CRDB Bank account. Ensure the children get their education. Goodbye,” stated Misime.

He added that after sending that message, Dr Chami could no longer be reached until he was found dead on the night of September 13, 2024, at 9pm.

Shrouded in mystery

The death of Dr Dismas Chami remains shrouded in mystery. A friend of the deceased, Elinaza Msuya, spoke to Mwananchi from Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, where he was attending to a relative. Msuya described Dr Chami as a private individual who preferred to keep to himself, adding to the puzzlement surrounding his death.

Msuya, who had been in contact with Dr Chami's wife throughout the ordeal, recounted the unfolding events: “Initially, we didn’t anticipate such a serious outcome.

We thought Dr Chami’s absence might be due to a network issue. We expected him to return by Sunday, September 8, since Monday was a workday. When he didn’t show up, I advised his wife to report his disappearance to the police, which she did.”

He further revealed that on Wednesday, messages were sent from Dr Chami’s phone. The first message read: "I am very sorry, in a few minutes, I will no longer be in this world. Take care of everything I started."

The circumstances of Dr Chami's death, including the message sent before he was found, have intensified the mystery surrounding the case, as authorities continue their investigation.