MEMBERS of the National Assembly have requested the government to take stern measures against people attacking elders, especially in the Lake Zone regions.
For many years media reports confirmed repeated killings of the elderly in different regions particularly Shinyanga, Mwanza, Geita, Tabora and Mara under the pretext witchcraft beliefs.
The Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Hamadi Masauni yesterday informed the National Assembly in Dodoma about the arrest of 135 suspects with 222 of them facing charges in court.
Masauni said the arrest happened between July 2015 and March 2016 and deployment of intelligence agents was underway. Some traditional healers are are among the suspects misleading the public.
He said through impromptu operations by the government, identification of suspects behind murders of the elderly in some areas was made possible.
He was responding to a basic question by Tauhida Cassian Galloss (Special Seats – CCM) posed on her behalf by Faida Mohamed Bakari (CCM) who demanded clarification on definitive measures to protect elders who have fallen victims of witchcraft related killings.
“Community education has been possible through community police volunteers, clerics, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders in security and defence. Under the initiative, the public had been informed about the consequences of taking the law in their hands,” Masauni explained.
In her supplementary question, the MP explained the plight of the elderly who are wrongly accused because of being red-eyed due to smoke coming from the kitchen that use cow dung as fuel.
“Is it not time for the government to fast track the supply of gas to the villagers at a subsidised rate as part of measures to improve their health and save them from attacks as well?” Queried Faida.
The House was informed that security organs have devised an advanced interception approach to apprehend murder suspects before the crime had been committed.
