Tanzania President fires "Sodomy" regional commissioner

DODOMA, Tanzania

The President of Tanzania, Samia Hassan, today June 11, has revoked the appointment of the Simiyu Regional Commissioner, Yahaya Nawanda, who is alleged of sexually assaulting a university student.

Nawanda, was Tabora District Commissioner, before his appointment as Simiyu Region Commissioner in July 2022.

In a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Directorate and signed by Sharifa Nyanga, Nawanda's place is taken by Kenan Kihongosi who was Momba district Commissioner.

Before being fired, reports spread on social networks that there is one regional commissioner of the lake region who is alleged of sexually assaulting a university student in Mwanza region.

Later, the social networks were buzzing about the sexual violence that led to the identification of the leader alleged of committing the crime.

In addition, the leaders of the opposition parties and human rights defenders in the country have been raising their voices for the government to conduct a detailed investigation into the existence of the complaint of the leader harassing the girl by sodomy.

According to a leaked police investigation report that went viral on the internet, a 21-year-old girl, Tumsiime Mathias, made a report at the central police station accusing Yahaya Nawanda of sodomizing her at a Bar car park in Mwanza.

In another development, one letter written on June 6 requesting to remove the case of sodomy from the police; has gone viral on social media.

In the letter, which shows that it was written by the same Tumsiime Mathias, asks the Mwanza Police Investigation Chief to withdraw the investigation of allegations of sexual assault against one Yahaya Nawanda on the grounds that the complainant does not need to continue with the matter.

One of the leaders of the opposition party, CHADEMA, Mdude Nyangali, has said that the act of asking the police to withdraw the case is inhumane.

"I am saddened after the victim who claims to have been sodomised by a Regional Commissioner of Simiyu did not cooperate. I am more saddened to see her letter withdrawing the case. However, the criminal case belongs to the Republic and the victim is only a witness and not the owner of the case. What we want is for the suspect to be brought to court." Nyangali has said.