Tanzania: Accident Sparks Running Battles

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Zephania Ubwani

23 June 2011

Police here were yesterday forced to fire into the air to disperse angry mobs who intended to lynch a trader who they accused of being behind a fatal accident.Sounds of gunfire filled the air in mid morning in Unga Limited area as the law enforcers battled with multitudes of people who bayed for the trader’s blood.

The businessman, identified as Abbas Ally, 38, is alleged to have knocked down a bicycle rider at around 3.30 am killing him instantly. The incident which took the life of a Mr John Manengelo, 52, happened near the old Sunflag Textile Mill.

The vehicle was allegedly being driven by Mr Ally who took to his heels in fear of the mob which thronged the area soon after the accident.Eye witnesses said that after knocking down the cyclist unknown people who were at the scene smashed the car’s windscreen and overturned it with the intention of setting it ablaze.

They then turned on the driver, a Tanzanian of Asian origin but he survived by a whisker after taking shelter in a shop within the Sunflag plant’s perimeter wall and locked himself from inside.This did not stop the mob which pursued him to his hideout and threatened to vent their anger on the assets of the factory, which is within Unga Limited, one of the most densely populated suburbs in Arusha.

Scared factory employees immediately called the police on the fear that the angry mobs would torch the premises.Police who rushed to the scene were forced to fire into the air and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the unruly crowd. Unconfirmed reports said that the angry mob then started to stone other vehicles that passed through the area. No injuries have, however, been reported.

The acting regional police commander, Mr Akili Mpwapwa, confirmed the incident and added that the trader alleged to have been behind the accident would be charged in court for dangerous driving. He added that investigations into the incident were still going on. The deceased was until his tragic death working in a cosmetics shop in Arusha as a security guard.

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