Zanzibar First VP calls for thorough investigations into mysterious deaths

Unguja. Zanzibar's First Vice President, Othman Masoud, has called on the government to fully investigate and clarify the circumstances surrounding the recent deaths of four individuals in a mysterious incident.

He urged the affected families to remain patient as authorities work to uncover the truth and ensure justice is served.

The tragedy occurred on the night of November 9, 2024, when a Dayna vehicle, driven by Msina Sharif (39), crashed into a tree, leading to the deaths of the driver and his assistant, Abdala Bakari (28).

Two young passengers, Mohamed Issa (10) and Hamza Abdalla Abasi (10), both pupils from Kidoti Primary School, sustained injuries.

Initial reports from the Zanzibar Police, released on November 10, stated that the vehicle lost control and crashed after attempting to flee from a police check point.

Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations, Zubeir Chembera, confirmed that a special committee had been set up to investigate the incident further, especially in light of social media rumors and claims that the victims were shot by police officers.

"We are conducting a thorough investigation into this tragic event. A committee has been formed to examine why the vehicle fled, why other vehicles attacked police officers, and whether shots were fired by the police," Chembera said. "Once the investigation is concluded, we will share our findings with the public."

The incident occurred during a police operation in the North A District of Kidoti Village, where officers had stopped a Toyota Dyana truck with no registration plates.

According to Chembera, the driver ignored orders to stop, honked the horn, and attempted to flee. Other vehicles joined in, allegedly throwing stones at the police.

 In response, police fired warning shots in the air, but the driver continued to evade them, eventually losing control and crashing into a tree.

Chembera reiterated that while the crash is believed to have caused the fatalities, the investigation is ongoing to determine whether any police actions contributed to the deaths.

Meanwhile, the ACT Wazalendo party has called for full accountability. Hamad Mussa Yussuf, a spokesperson for the opposition party, condemned the incident as an act of ‘murder’ and demanded the police reveal the identities of those responsible for the deaths and take swift action against them.

“This is a grave tragedy, and we demand justice. The police must publicly disclose who was responsible for these deaths and ensure that those involved face the law immediately,” Yussuf said.

VP visits grieving families

During a visit to the families of the victims on November 15, 2024, First Vice President Othman Masoud expressed his condolences and reiterated the government’s commitment to uncovering the truth.

He emphasized that it was the government’s duty to thoroughly investigate such incidents and provide the public with clarity, especially when lives are lost under mysterious circumstances.

“This is a tragic event, and it is the responsibility of the government to investigate it fully. The truth must be revealed without concealment, so the community can understand what happened. This process is crucial for ensuring justice and preventing similar incidents in the future,” Othman stated.

In his remarks, Othman praised the families for their patience in the wake of this tragedy, acknowledging the difficulty of their situation while assuring them that the government would pursue justice.

He called on the public to remain calm, as they had demonstrated during the incident, and to allow the ongoing investigation to proceed.

Othman’s statement, issued through the First Vice President’s office, underscored the importance of transparency and accountability. He added that without a full understanding of the facts, it would be difficult to address the deeper issues that led to the deaths and prevent such occurrences in the future.