MONEY, NOT SUPERSTITION, BEHIND MURDER OF ELDERS

PLEASE SORRY FOR THIS HORRIBLE AND SHOCKING PHOTO, BUT THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN TANZANIA. HOWEVER, THIS SHOULD COME TO AN END:

The late Ms Milembe Jengamalulu (55) who was killed last January on sorcery allegations in Shinyanga region. She one of many elders killed every year in the country. Photo courtesy of Dunia Kiganjani Blog.

Most murders of elderly folk in various parts of the country are not relate to superstitious beliefs as previously thought but shockingly, the cold blooded
killings are financial related and committed by would be heirs, police have reported.

The development comes as police in Kagera Region hold four suspects for alleged involvement in the killing of Persons With Albinism (PWA) and elderly folk in the region and elsewhere in the country.

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Kagera Regional Police Commander, Henry Bwaibambe said the murders are money motivated as heirs force their way to getting their inheritance early.

“Most of the elders are killed by close relatives, sometimes by their own children looking to inherit their property,” he explained.

He pledged continued police vigilance to nab all perpetrators saying the law will not rest until they are brought before justice.

“We caution folk to be wary and taken precaution…the force will not let these murders go, all persons involved will be brought to justice,” said the RPC.

As to the PWA murder suspects RPC Bwaibambe said the arrest followed an anonymous tip off and subsequent surveillance of the suspects by police.

“We put them under police surveillance until we were satisfied their activities are related to the killings,” he explained.

He named the suspects as Maximilian Mathias (25), Mkombozi Michael (40), Tumaini Basisila (27) and Buhu Mtunzi (age not specified) all residents of Biharamulo District.

Bwaibambe said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had on several occasions been hired by unknown people to commit the murders in Kagera Region and elsewhere in the country.

Bwaibambe said initially police thought the killings of elderly was associated with superstition but it has come to learn of late that many elderly people are killed by their heirs.

“They will be taken to court soon after the investigations are completed,” he said adding that police in the region have also launched a manhunt to break what is a growing network behind the killings of PWAs in the country. He said that, unlike the killings of the elders, murders of PWAs are still believed to be related to superstitious beliefs.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN