The mystery surrounding the abduction of a Kenyan businessman in Dar es Salaam deepened yesterday after it emerged that he was at once the personal assistant to one of Tanzania’s opposition leaders.
Mr Raphael Ongangi who was abducted from his home by gunmen on Monday night, worked closely with Mr Zitto Kabwe, an outspoken critic of President John Pombe Magufuli.
Mr Kabwe is now linking the arrest to State operatives and has demanded his immediate release.
On June 11, Mr Kabwe was arrested by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau at the airport while he was about to travel abroad. The legislator said he had been accused of violating Section 50 (1) (a) of Media Services Act.
During his arrest, his phone, laptop and passport were confiscated.
According to a letter seen by the Nation, the investigative team can keep the items for not more than six months as they continue with investigations.
Mr Kabwe has not accessed his social media pages since the devices were confiscated but yesterday, the accounts were active.
“I have not been able to access my social media pages because I only do it using my devices, which were confiscated by detectives,” he said.
“I was surprised to see my pages active. The only other person who has access to the accounts is Mr Ongangi. It’s surprising that days after his abduction, my accounts are still active,” he added.
Speaking at Parliament buildings Thursday, Mr Kabwe clarified that the posts on his pages were not from him and urged the abductors to release his associate.
The accounts have since been suspended after he reported the unusual activities.
Mr Ongangi’s wife, Ms Veronica Kundya, expressed fears for her life following her husband’s abduction.
She has appealed to the police to move fast with investigations.
Ms Kundya was with her husband when the gunmen ambushed them before driving away with the businessman.
Three armed men who claimed to be security officers forced her to the back seat of their car and drove them to Safari Beach near Msasani fish market.
CCTV cameras show three cars, two motorbikes and the couple’s Land Rover Discovery Sport.
The gunmen then moved Mr Ongangi to another car and drove off, leaving Ms Kundya waiting in the family’s vehicle.
“They left me with instructions to wait for further information.
About an hour later, I received a call from my husband with instructions that I should go home and not report the incident anywhere,” she said.
After the phone call, she drove home and later reported the matter to Oysterbay police station and the Kenyan High Commission.
Strangely, as of Wednesday, the Dar-es-Salaam Special Police Zone Commander Lazaro Mambosasa was unaware of the incident.
“I will not feel safe until they find my husband. I am still traumatised following his abduction,” she said.
The High Commissioner to Tanzania, Mr Dan Kazungu, confirmed they received reports of the missing trader and were working with Tanzanian authorities to find him
