BY JUMBE ISMAILLY
Following extensive government efforts to stem killings of people with albinism (PwA) by banning divination conducted by witchdoctors, dishonest law enforcing officers have taken the opportunity to extort bribes from witchdoctors to allow them carry on with the censured practice.
The revelation has come after one policeman, Constable G.9803 PC Mussa Chacha Marwa was arrested by the Manyoni District Officer with the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) for demanding 800,000/- from a witchdoctor who later tipped off the police.
PCCB officials said that some police officers have been threatening witchdoctors who refuse such extortions, saying they will arrest any such officers if reported to them.
PCCB officials in the district confirmed the incident, saying at around noon at Chaldekaa hamlet in Mpola village in Manyoni District, the suspect was arrested by PCCB officials in the act of soliciting and later receiving 800,000/- from a witchdoctor (name withheld).
PCCB officer in-charge, Michael Sanga confirmed that the suspect was charged before the district magistrate’s court where he denied the charge.
Elaborating on the incident, he said that on the fateful day the accused 800,000/- from the local healer (name withheld) and threatened to arrest him if he did not hand in the money.
PCCB received reports from the healer and sent investigators to the scene, laid a trap and managed to net the suspect, he said.
According to him, after the investigations PCCB sent him to court to answer the charges before the district court in Manyoni District last week.
The accused denied the charges and he is out on bail after two reliable sureties put a bond of 2m/- each.
The case will come up for mention on 21st, this year.
Sanga urged residents of the district to continue providing such information if anyone is subjected to extortion by police officers or other public servants contrary to their code of conduct.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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