Clergy appeals to government to step up fight against robbery

By Charles Masanyika

Leaders of various Christian denominations in the Arusha Municipality have urged the Government to find ways of eradicating the escalating robbery problem.

Speaking during a joint worship session held on Good Friday which brought together various denominations to the Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium, the Bishop of the Diocese in Arusha Region of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, the Right Reverend Thomas Laizer made a passionate appeal to the government to fight robbery.

Bishop Laizer said that robbery incidents have been alarming especially during the past few weeks and residents have been living in fear for their lives and properties. Mentioning some of the ugly incidences that occurred in recent weeks he said armed robbers killed a woman in broad daylight in Njiro area and made away with her vehicle.

He also cited another incident in Unga Limited where a leader of Sungusungu (Civilian home guards) was killed, while on guard, by armed robbers. On April 11, the criminals robbed millions of shillings from livestock traders while they were on their way to Nduruma Market. During that incident they also injured a Primary Court Magistrate.

However, the Bishop said that those robbers are familiar people and are also religious followers. He urged the Government to impose stern punishment on robbers and urged religious leaders and believers to pray for such crime to cease.

In his message, Bishop Simon Makundi of the Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro of the Anglican Church blamed the habit of mobs taking law in their hands by lynching the suspects. He advised that the suspects should be handed to legal authorities.

In response, the Regional Commissioner for Arusha, Mr. Mohamed Babu admitted that there was a prevailing wave of armed robbery in the region and asked the people to collaborate with the police force to curb the persistent crimes.

"There is no any other method of eradicating the rampant crimes other than residents collaborating with the police," said Mr. Babu.

Speaking on AIDS/HIV epidemic, the Regional Commissioner asked religious leaders to use their houses of worship as a platform for fighting the epidemic.

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Last modified: April 25, 2003.
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