Minister for Home Affairs, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi
According to a statement issued in
Dar es Salaam and signed by the ministrys spokesperson, Mr Isaac Nantanga, the minister has formed an investigation team/committee not a commission of inquiry as maintained by Mr Tundu Lisu, an MP from Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema).
When he addressed journalists on September 4, 2012, the minister spoke about the formation of a committee to investigate matters that preceded the death of Daudi Mwangosi, during the outbreak of scuffles that ensued at Nyololo village, Mufindi district, Iringa region on September 2, 2012, read part of the statement.
The minister formed the committee, added the statement, to help provide answers to a number of questions. These include the circumstances that surrounded the death of Mwangosi, whether there existed hostility between him and Iringa police, and authenticate allegations that there were three journalists in the region lined up for revenge by the police.
Other questions awaiting answers by the committee include justification of use of excessive force applied by the police, whether there were legal procedures for political parties to appeal, in case of a fall-out with the police and whether there existed acrimony between the police and political parties.
The clarification was given in response to claims by Chadema Director of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Tundu Lisu, who announced that his party did not support the composition of the fact-finding commission which in the first place, violated Section 29 of the Probe Commission Act of 1962.
The section states that only President of the United Republic of
Tanzania has powers to form a probe commission and not otherwise. However, the ministry insisted that the minister, in his capacity formed a probe committee, not a probe commission and the arrangement was a common functional procedure to advise any leader for effective implementation of ordinary duties.
Earlier reports maintained that, Daudi Mwangosi, died after being struck by a gas canister as police dispersed a crowd at a rally staged by the opposition political party, Chadema.This was after Chadema earlier launched a branch office in another village. But when they arrived at Nyololo, the police asked people to disperse because rallies and demonstrations had been banned.
Police reportedly used teargas canisters, one of which hit the Channel Ten journalist who was about 100 metres from the new Chadema office where people had gathered to witness the launch. His stomach was ripped open and he died on the spot. The fight between the police and furious opposition party members lasted about 30 minutes. Police tried to disperse the crowd, which convened at the partys office