Dr. Ulimboka's Assailant Arrested

Commander Suleiman Kova

A Kenyan national, an alleged member of a criminal gang known as "Gun Star” based in Ruiru, near Nairobi, one Mr Joshua Gitu Mulundi, 31appeared in the Kisutu RM's court  yesterday in connection with last month’s torture of Dr Steven Ulimboka. Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander Suleiman Kova said Mr Mulundi told police he and 12 accomplices, who were still at large, were contracted to come to Tanzania and harm Dr Ulimboka BUT the accused was not allowed to enter a plea because the court does not have jurisdiction over the case.  Mr Mulundi did not name the person or persons who contracted them, but believed he was a public servant. According to Mr Kova, Mr Mulundi was arrested at the Ufufuo na Uzima Church in Kawe, Dar es Salaam, following a tipoff. 

Meanwhile the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHEC), Sikika, Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) and Tanzania Media Women’s Association (Tamwa),appealed in a joint statement for international intervention in the dispute between doctors and the government:

Following the failure by the government of Tanzania to address the longstanding demands by doctors and activists to improve the quality of health services in public hospitals in the country, human rights activists and defenders hereby request for international support and collaboration to call on the government of the United Republic of Tanzania to urgently address these demands.  

KRITIC: 

1. Kenyans have a distinct accent, one that you'd most certainly recognize, how is it then that it slipped Dr. Ulimboka's mind?

2. He was arrested at a church-a sanctuary to all, where was he living? Were his premises searched?

3. How relevant is an admission that doesn't disclose the actual perpetrator? Who hired him? 

4T3DRD9STPSQ 

Doctor's Strike: Are you logical or emotional?

Dr. Stephen Ulimboka, hours after his torture.

It is a shame that it had to come down to this. Tanzania has a lesson to learn from the Doctor's strike. The questions everyone ought to be asking were not asked, instead we the citizens, influenced by either our sympathy for those suffering or/and the continuous reeling outbursts from the government, rallied against the doctors in spite of their claims. Was this an emotional or logical issue. It is a fact that it is impossible to reconcile the heart with the mind, emotions with logic, therefore, question yourself on whether your approach to this strike was influenced by logic or emotions.  It was not until the grievous beating of Dr. Stephen Ulimboka that most people realized the degree of attention that this strike deserved. In essence the beating was a message and nothing else, a message of fear to all those who intend to express their right to a lawful strike against the government's will, but who sanctioned government will as a prerequisite for a lawful strike? And who sanctioned the heinous beating of the Chairman  of the Interim Doctor's Committee (the committee that organised the strike)? There are many questions lingering around the entire situation but a significant faction of the populace is relieved that this chairman is hospitalized for allegedly 'disturbing the peace'. It is to the latter faction that I direct the following questions: 

1. Do medical doctors in Tanzania have a constitutional right to strike? 

2. Was the strike conducted lawfully?

3. Where the demands advanced by the Medical Association of Tanzania reasonable?

4.Was the government's response of issuing threats lawful? 

5. Who sanctioned the abduction and torture of Dr. Ulimboka? Of what significance was the said torture?

6. Are your answers to the above based on emotional or logical premises?

Coming Real Soon

Kosowa is derived from the Kiswahili word Kosoa which denotes the act of correcting or putting straight anything uncouth. In essence, this is an avenue for you to openly exercise your right to freedom of speech and open dialogue on various sensitive issues affecting the youth of our country, issues that the nation is aware  of but indifferent to, issues you and I cannot solve independently, but united as one voice, we can scream loud enough for the esteemed members of the august parliament to hear and act accordingly!!!!


Watch this space starting July 7th 2012!!!!!!