TWO FOREIGN TOURISTS ROBBED AT GUN POINT IN ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK

Two foreign tourists have been robbed of various items worth several million dollars at gunpoint in Arusha National Park, raising serious doubts about the security situation in the game sanctuary.

In the rare episode, three heavily armed gangsters posing as game wardens reportedly ambushed the tourists in the park located nearly 35kms north-east of the northern safari capital of Arusha.

The thugs managed to put the tourists under siege and ransacked them before walking away with hard cash, tourist bags, digital cameras and other valuable items.

Arusha regional police commander Basilio Matei confirmed the incident.

“My men, in collaboration with Tanzania National Parks Authority game wardens, are currently working extra time hunting for the armed hooligans,” Matei said.

Jeremiah Maka, a professional tour guide with Big Expeditions who was escorting the tourists, said the incident took place at Ngurdoto crater within the national park late last week.

Maka named the victims as Christina Lazano from Spain and Paulina Elago from Namibia.

According to him, the two tourists were resolved to visit the nearest park in Arusha after taking time off from participating in an international conference.

“This is a strange incident to happen within the maximum security national park. It is unbelievable indeed, no one can buy the tale,” Maka explained.

For his part, Big Expeditions executive director Nicholaus Minja made a passionate call to the police and TANAPA to apprehend the culprits behind the shameful incident.

"The latest robbery incident will tarnish the good image of the country, but I hope the police, in collaboration with TANAPA, will do something about this,” Minja stressed.

SERIKALI YAMNG'ANG'ANIA LIYUMBA

UPANDE wa jamhuri katika kesi ya matumizi mabaya ya ofisi ya umma na kuisababishia serikali hasara ya sh bilioni 221 inayomkabili aliyekuwa Mkurugenzi wa Utumishi na Utawala wa Benki Kuu, Amatus Liyumba umeiomba Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Kisutu Dar es Salaam, imuone mshitakiwa ana kesi ya kujibu.

Ombi hilo liliwasilishwa mahakamani hapo jana saa tisa alasiri kwa njia ya maandishi yaliyochukua kurasa 29 na Mkuu wa Kitengo cha Sheria cha Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (TAKUKURU), Ben Lincoln na wakili wa serikali Prosper Mwangamila.

Kuwasilishwa kwa ombi hilo kulitokana na amri iliyotolewa Machi 15, mwaka huu, na kiongozi wa jopo la mahakimu wakazi wanaosikiliza kesi hiyo, Edson Mkasimongwa ambaye alizitaka pande zote kuwasilisha maombi kwa njia ya maandishi.

Kwa mujibu wa nakala ya ombi hilo ambalo gazeti hili lina nakala yake, upande wa jamhuri umedai kwa mujibu wa vielelezo 12 walivyotoa mahakamani na mashahidi wanane waliowaleta, wameweza kutoa ushahidi thabiti dhidi ya mshitakiwa ambao utaishawishi mahakama hiyo imuone ana kesi ya kujibu na kuongeza kuwa wanaiomba mahakama hiyo itupilie mbali ombi la utetezi lililotaka mahakama imuone mshitakiwa huyo hana kesi ya kujibu kwa sababu halina msingi.

Wakichambua shitaka la matumuzi mabaya ya ofisi ya umma kinyume na kifungu cha 91(1) cha Sheria ya Kanuni ya Adhabu ya mwaka 2002, jamhuri imejigamba kuwa imeweza kuthibitsha shitaka hilo kwa sababu mshitakiwa huyo ni kweli alikuwa mtumishi wa serikali toka mwaka 1971-2007 na kwamba alikuwa na cheo wakati wa mradi wa 10 Milambo Office Extention na alikuwa na jukumu la kuusimamia na kwamba kwa mujibu wa shahidi 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 na 8 waliithibitishia mahakama kuwa mradi huo ulikuwa ukiratibiwa na ofisi aliyokuwa akiongoza Liyumba ya Utumishi na Utawala.

Wakichambua shitaka la pili la kuisababishia serikali hasara, upande wa jamhuri umejigamba kuwa umeweza kuthibitisha shitaka hilo kwa madai kuwa hoja iliyodaiwa na upande wa utetezi kuwa haiwezekani kutambua hasara iliyopatikana bila ripoti ya mwisho ya mradi kukamilika si ya msingi kwani hata ikitolewa haiwezi kubadili makadirio ya gharama za mradi.

Kuhusu hoja ya upande wa utetezi iliyodai upande wa mashitaka umeshindwa kuthibisha kwamba mshitakiwa huyo alitenda makosa hayo akiwa na nia ovu, umedai kuwa katika kesi za jinai hoja hiyo haina msingi.

Machi 22 mwaka huu, mawakili wa utetezi Majura Magafu, Onesmo Kyauke, Hudson Ndusyepo na Jaji Mstaafu Hillary Mkate waliwasilisha hoja zao wakitaka mahakama hiyo imuachilie huru mshitakiwa huyo kwa sababu upande wa mashitaka umeshindwa kuthibitisha kesi yao.

Kwa sababu tayari pande zote mbili katika kesi hiyo zimekwisha wasilisha hoja zao, kiongozi wa jopo la mahakimu wakazi, Mkasimongwa, Lameck Mlacha na Benedict Mwingwa, Aprili 9 mwaka huu, wanatarajiwa kutoa uamuzi wao kuhusiana na hoja hizo.

MAJAMBAZI 37 YAKAMATWA DAR

JESHI la polisi nchini lemefanikiwea kukamatwa majambazi 37 sugu katika operesheni inayoendelea nchi nzima.

Majambazi hayo yamekamatwa katika siku tofauti tofauti katika msako mkali wa jeshi hilo kuweasaka majambazi hayo yanayofanya uhalifu jijini Dar es Salaam.

Akizungumza na vyombo vya habari jijini Dar es Salaam, Kamanda wa Kanda Maalum ya Dar es Salaam, Suleimani Kova amesema wamefanikiwa kuwakamata watu hao kwa mitego ambayo ilitegwa na jeshi hilo katika maeneo tofauti tofauti.

Amesema majambazi hayo kati yao 15 yalikamatwa yakiwa yamevaa mabaibui na madira ili kufanikisha uhalifu wao katika maeneo tofauti ya jiji.

Amesema pia waliweza kukamata bunduki aina ya SMG mopja, Short gun moja, bastola tatu pamoja na risasi kadha walizokutwa nazo wahalifu hao.

MAMA SALMA KIWEKE ANUSURIKA AJALI MBAYA

MKE wa Rais Mama Salma Kikwete anusurika kifo kwa ajali mbaya baada ya msafara wake kuingia doa kwa kuvamiwa na lori na kugonga magari matatu ya msafara huo.

Ajali hiyo ilitokea jana wilayani Rorya mkoani Mara wakati Mama Salma akiwa ziarani mkoani humo.

Kamdanda wea Polisi Tarime, Bw. Constantine Masawe alithibitisha kutokea kwa ajali hiyo na alisema lori hilo lilisimamishwa na askari wa barabarani lisimame ili kupisha msafara huo na kukaidi na kuingia barabarani na kusababisha ajali hiyo.

Amesema kuwa lori hilo liligonga magari matatu ya nyuma ya msafara huo na kusababisha ajali ambayo haikuwa ya lazima wka muda huo.

Amesema lori hilo lilikuwa linaokea nchini Kenya ambapo ilidaiwa pia lori hilo lilikuwa limebeba mali za magendo.

Hivyo imedaiwa dereva huyo ameshikiliwa na jeshi hilo ili kujibu tuhuma hizo.

Hata hivyo hakuna aliyeweza kupoteza masiha kaika ajali hiyo.