| |
Police quickly stepped in to quell the riots using teargas canisters and water canons as thugs pelted them with stones. The law enforces have meanwhile launched a manhunt for the riot ringleaders, vowing to arrest and bring to book all the culpable - at any cost.
Small groups of protesters were all over the place in the whole afternoon yesterday while anti-riot police dispatched to all the main shopping centres including Stone Town went full force to block demonstrations by an Islamic group that is allegedly pushing for a dissolution of the Union between Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland.
The ugly situation came to a head after members of a group calling itself the Association of Islamic Awareness and Public Discourse, known in its Kiswahili acronym, Jumiki, which stands for Jumuiya ya Uamsho na Mihadhara ya Kiislamu Zanzibar, torched two churches and destroyed other properties worth millions of shillings, including a motor vehicle.
The hundreds of Jumiki members blocked roads using stones and raided without success the Mjini Magharibi central police station pressing for the release of their leaders who had been arrested following the mayhem.
Sources said the rioters were agitating for the disbandment of the Union, which would result in cutting off Zanzibar islands from Tanzania Mainland.
The Zanzibar Police Commissioner, Mr Mussa Ali Mussa, told a press conference yesterday that seven leaders of the group have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations. He declined to mention their names.
“We have arrested seven leaders of the group but I don’t have their names at hand. I have only the name of one Mr Mussa Abdallah Juma,” said police commissioner who added that demonstrators burnt down two churches and damaged other properties worth millions of shillings.
He said the police have launched a manhunt for the association’s ringleaders, adding that the leaders were instigating the youth to create chaos in the Isles.
“We will hunt them down and get then… at any cost,” vowed Mr Mussa, adding that the police have banned public rallies that are called without express written permission from the Force.
“We will continue ensuring that Zanzibar remains peaceful,” he said.
A spot-check by The Citizen found that most affected areas include Darajani and Michenzani, two of the most important business centres in the Isles.
Shoppers deserted the areas as anti-riot police, who sporadically used tear gas to disperse pockets of groups, were dispatched to every corner to ensure peace and security.
Most of the streets, mainly roads, were littered with stones, logs and burning tyres, making it difficult for motorists to drive through.
The leader of the Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG) Bishop Dickson Maganga, told The Citizen that a group of people raided his church at Kariakoo around 10.30am on Saturday.
“They broke into the church and burned plastic chairs before going for my car which they also reduced to a shell,” said Bishop Maganga.
He said he reported the incident to the police who promptly arrived at the scene, adding that the fire brigade also arrived at the church shortly thereafter.
“The fire brigade managed to put out the fire before it spread,” the Bishop said.
In its statement, the association denied involvement in torching the churches, blaming the police for failing to control the situation.
The secretary of the association, Mr Abdallah Said, blamed the police for what he termed as their arbitrary arrests of the their leaders.
Even as we went to press last evening, there were reports that there were still scattered running battles between the police and the protesters who were still bent on setting fire on bars and churches.
Minister of State in the Second Vice-President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Aboud, said last night that the government would do everything to return normalcy to Zanzibar and ensure the Islands remain peaceful.
Source: The Citizen.
No comments:
Post a Comment