This article was translated by Jean Burke for this blog from a Kiswahili newspaper (NIPASHE)
The second witness in the case of the murder of a child with albinism, has described to the Supreme Court of Tanzania of Mwanza Zone that he saw the first defendant, Kazimili Mashauri, when he killed his younger sister, Mariam Emmanuel (5) and that he told them if they made a sound they would be killed.
A part of the examination, between this witness, Nhindi Emmanuel, who is in Grade Five and the Public Prosecutor, Ayub Mwenda, before the Judge Projest Rugazia who is hearing this case , was as follows:
Lawyer: What happened at night when you were asleep?
Witness: Three people woke us up.
Lawyer: What did they tell you?
Witness: Lie down. If you make a noise we will kill you.
Lawyer: What did they have?
Witness: One had a machete, the second had a knife and the third a torch.
Lawyer: After telling you to lie down, what did they start to do?
Witness: They started to kill our little sister.
Lawyer: Who was killing her?
Witness: Kazimili.
Lawyer: What were the other two doing?
Witness: One was catching the blood by using a saucepan.
Lawyer: The other?
Witness: He was shining a torch.
Lawyer: After killing her, what happened then?
Witness: Kazimili drank the blood.
Lawyer: What happened after slaughtering her?
Witness: They cut off her legs.
Lawyer: How did you recognize Kazimili?
Witness: He was shining light with the torch.
Lawyer: Where was Kazimili living?
Witness: Just in the village.
Lawyer: What did you do after they left?
Witness: I went into my grandfather’s room to tell him, I called him Grandpa, Grandpa but he didn’t wake up. Later my uncle came and he kept calling him and then he woke up.
The witness told the court that he explained to his grandfather that Mariam was ruthlessly killed by Kazimili and then his grandfather lit a lamp and went to look.
He was questioned by the lawyer defending the first accused, Willbard Butambala, if the murderers hit him, and the witness described to Judge Rugazia that Kazimili hit him with the machete on his back.
In another event, Judge Rugazia decided to use his discretion after the third witness in this case, Jesca Emmanuel or Ndashaba didn’t understand the meaning of an oath and the effects of lying.
This witness who didn’t mention her age, told the judge that she is in first class in Ukiriguru Primary School in Misungwi district.
She was assisted by an interpreter, Jackson Tinapo, who interpreted the questions into Sukuma language, this child said she didn’t know when she started school, and the lessons which she is studying and that they did exams in February.
Because of the situation, Judge Rugazia said this witness didn’t appear to understand and it was unnecessary to teach her about oaths, and so permitted her to give evidence without an oath.
This case, number 42 of the year 2009 concerns the two accused, Kazimili Mashauri (48) and Mathias Italanga (60) known as Mahona.
The murder of Mariam occurred on January 21, in the year 2008, at 4 in the morning in Nyangh’olongo village of Misungwi district Mwanza region.
This case began to be heard on Tuesday when the mother of the deceased, Flora Mabula, gave evidence before Judge Rugazia adjourned it until yesterday. The case continues today.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Mother describes how her albino child was killed
This article was translated by Jean Burke for this blog from a Kiswahili newspaper (NIPASHE)
The first witness in the case of the murder of albino, Mariam Emmanuel (5), Flora Mabula (33) has described to the Supreme Court of Tanzania of Mwanza Zone that prior to the murder occurring the first defendant, Kazimili Mashauri (48), asked her children about the house where they sleep.
This witness who is the mother of the deceased, told the court that because they were related to Mashauri, the children told him that they stayed in their grandfather’s house and she (the witness) was not worried about this.
The murder of albino, Mariam Emmanuel took place on January 21, this year at the time of 4am in Nyangh’olongo village of Misungwi district where it is claimed the murder suspects cut off both legs and disappeared with them.
This case is being heard by Judge Protace Rugazia and the prosecution side is being led by Public Prosecutor, Ayubu Mwenda, assisted by Stephen Makwega and Judith Nyaki.
Guided by the lawyer Mwenda, the witness told judge Rugazia that Mashauri was recognized by her children while holding a torch after breaking into the house and entering their room. Flora continued to explain to Judge Rugazia that this torch was used to illuminate the deceased where they were sleeping and the other murderers were holding machetes and pans to collect the blood. She claimed that at the time of this incident she was sleeping in her hut which was in the area of her father Mabula Fimbo, while her six children were asleep in their grandfather’s house.
According to Flora, while still sleeping she heard a noise made by people coming outside and finding many people in her father’s house and she tried to ask what had happened and she was told to go inside and see for herself.
“I went inside and found my daughter Mariamu had been ruthlessly killed and her body lay on the bed with both of her legs gone,” she explained to the court in a voice hard to hear.
She claimed that when she asked her other children who carried out this murder, they told her that they saw Mashauri holding a torch.
This case, number 42 of the year 2009 is directed towards two accused, Mashauri and Mathias Italanga (60) better known as Mahona.
The murder of the child, Mariam, occurred on January 21, 2008 at 4 am in the morning in Nyangh’olongo village, Misungwi district, of Mwanza region.
Judge Rugazia adjourned the case until tomorrow when the second witness will begin to give their evidence.
The first witness in the case of the murder of albino, Mariam Emmanuel (5), Flora Mabula (33) has described to the Supreme Court of Tanzania of Mwanza Zone that prior to the murder occurring the first defendant, Kazimili Mashauri (48), asked her children about the house where they sleep.
This witness who is the mother of the deceased, told the court that because they were related to Mashauri, the children told him that they stayed in their grandfather’s house and she (the witness) was not worried about this.
The murder of albino, Mariam Emmanuel took place on January 21, this year at the time of 4am in Nyangh’olongo village of Misungwi district where it is claimed the murder suspects cut off both legs and disappeared with them.
This case is being heard by Judge Protace Rugazia and the prosecution side is being led by Public Prosecutor, Ayubu Mwenda, assisted by Stephen Makwega and Judith Nyaki.
Guided by the lawyer Mwenda, the witness told judge Rugazia that Mashauri was recognized by her children while holding a torch after breaking into the house and entering their room. Flora continued to explain to Judge Rugazia that this torch was used to illuminate the deceased where they were sleeping and the other murderers were holding machetes and pans to collect the blood. She claimed that at the time of this incident she was sleeping in her hut which was in the area of her father Mabula Fimbo, while her six children were asleep in their grandfather’s house.
According to Flora, while still sleeping she heard a noise made by people coming outside and finding many people in her father’s house and she tried to ask what had happened and she was told to go inside and see for herself.
“I went inside and found my daughter Mariamu had been ruthlessly killed and her body lay on the bed with both of her legs gone,” she explained to the court in a voice hard to hear.
She claimed that when she asked her other children who carried out this murder, they told her that they saw Mashauri holding a torch.
This case, number 42 of the year 2009 is directed towards two accused, Mashauri and Mathias Italanga (60) better known as Mahona.
The murder of the child, Mariam, occurred on January 21, 2008 at 4 am in the morning in Nyangh’olongo village, Misungwi district, of Mwanza region.
Judge Rugazia adjourned the case until tomorrow when the second witness will begin to give their evidence.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Albino’s grave dug up, bones taken
This article was translated for this blog from Kiswahili by Jean Burke. It first appeared in
The fear of being hunted for albino body parts has re-emerged after claims that unknown people exhumed the grave of a person with albinism in the Izengwabasumba settlement in Nyamalulu village, Geita district and some bones have disappeared.
It is alleged this incident is related to superstitious beliefs to gain riches from gold mining. It is said that the police force have not arrested any suspects but are continuing their investigations and already a confidential list of suspects including a traditional healer is being prepared as an initial step.
It is alleged the incident occurred at night in early July and was then reported at district police headquarters.
It is claimed that residents of this village discovered the grave of Zawadi Mangidu (22), at about four-thirty in the afternoon had been exhumed and a piece of a bone had fallen on top of the grave.
Information from the incident area indicates that suspects dug up the grave at the side of the cement-built area..by digging in areas without cement and then after exhuming it and removing the bones dug up, they filled in the hole and vanished.
In verifying the occurence of this incident, the Police Commander of Mwanza Region, Simon Sirro, said this incident took place one night in early July and that already a team of police led by the Head of Police of Geita district had arrived at the location of the incident.
He said the police went to the location of the incident after receiving the report from the village chair and began investigations where it was evident that after exhuming the grave, the criminals had filled it in later.
Nipashe,a Kiswahili newspaper here in Tanzania
The fear of being hunted for albino body parts has re-emerged after claims that unknown people exhumed the grave of a person with albinism in the Izengwabasumba settlement in Nyamalulu village, Geita district and some bones have disappeared.
It is alleged this incident is related to superstitious beliefs to gain riches from gold mining. It is said that the police force have not arrested any suspects but are continuing their investigations and already a confidential list of suspects including a traditional healer is being prepared as an initial step.
It is alleged the incident occurred at night in early July and was then reported at district police headquarters.
It is claimed that residents of this village discovered the grave of Zawadi Mangidu (22), at about four-thirty in the afternoon had been exhumed and a piece of a bone had fallen on top of the grave.
Information from the incident area indicates that suspects dug up the grave at the side of the cement-built area..by digging in areas without cement and then after exhuming it and removing the bones dug up, they filled in the hole and vanished.
In verifying the occurence of this incident, the Police Commander of Mwanza Region, Simon Sirro, said this incident took place one night in early July and that already a team of police led by the Head of Police of Geita district had arrived at the location of the incident.
He said the police went to the location of the incident after receiving the report from the village chair and began investigations where it was evident that after exhuming the grave, the criminals had filled it in later.
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