Inmate in connection to rape of 14-year old girl to be arraigned

KATAVI: THE Commissioner General of Prison (CGP), Mzee Nyamka has said that an inmate at Kalilankulukulu Prison in Tanganyika District, Katavi Region who is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl will be arraigned.

The CGP said that he had assigned the Acting Commissioner for Legal Services to make a follow up on the matter and ensure that appropriate legal measures are instituted accordingly.

“We have already launched investigations that will lead to administrative measures and I have been informed by the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Ramadhani Kingai that investigations have been completed and that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions,’’ he said.

He added: “Immediately after the prosecutor finalises his work, the suspect will be arraigned.

According to Mr Nyamka, the disciplinary measures will be taken against prison warders who were supposed to do their job to prevent any acts of criminality.

According to him, the said suspect was charged with criminal trespass and that he was convicted to serve a one-and-a-halfyear jail term, adding that he was to finish his term in April, 2024.

“Already he had served his jail term for a greater percentage,’’ he said.

The event occurred on March 01, whereas a 14-year-old girl, a resident of Kawanzige village in Mpanda District, Katavi Region was raped as she was walking back home from the farm.

It is believed that before committing an offence, the suspect kidnapped another girl who was accompanying the victim and later he proceeded to one of the bushes and raped her.

Mr Nyamka was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a meeting with prison warders at the headquarters of the Tanzania Prison Services in Dodoma.

At the meeting the CGP asked the officers to observe professionalism in the course of discharging their duties in order to bring positive results. He further expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for the good job she is doing especially improving infrastructures at various prisons countrywide as well as improving the working environment for prison officers.

At the event, the Commissioner for Human Resources and Administration, Deputy Commissioner of Prison (DCP), Jeremia Katungu said that the meeting was one of the normal sessions ought to be conducted in efforts to improve service delivery.

“Also, this is a meeting to make an assessment as well as putting in place strategies that will increase efficiency in the implementation of our duties as per the legislation,’’ added Mr Katungu.