 |
| Images of vehicles at bus station and traffic police. Images for illustration purposes. |
Police officers have arrested 18 people who allegedly assaulted a traffic police officer in Mwanza, Tanzania. The driver of a Public Service Vehicle (PSV), his conductor, and sixteen passengers are set to face the long arm of the law following their arrest by Mara region police. In a video shared on YouTube by Mwananchi Digital, Chief Traffic Officer Butusyo Mwambelo confirmed the incident, noting that the vehicle was carrying excess passengers. She noted that the traffic officer was inspecting the PSV and then asked passengers standing in the vehicle to disembark. Driver and Passengers Attack Traffic Police However, the conductor shut the door, and all those inside the vehicle, including the driver, and passengers, began attacking the officer. “Our officer was performing his duty of asking the standing passengers to get out of the vehicle.
Suddenly, they mocked him, and the conductor closed the vehicle’s door,” Mwambelo stated. She further expressed her disappointment with the incident noting that it is disheartening that citizens have reached the extent of attacking police officers, “Then, the driver, conductor, and passengers started beating the officer while he was inside the vehicle. Have we really reached such a point as Tanzanians?” she posed. Mwambelo said the driver will act as an example to other rogue drivers as his license will be revoked, and he will never be allowed to drive any other PSV in Tanzania.“We shall revoke the driver’s license, and he shall never work as a driver in this country to act as an example to the rest. How can passengers beat up a police officer who is there to protect them? She posed. The police boss made her remarks during a vehicle inspection operation at the Geita Central Bus Station. She emphasized that the incident was regrettable and would not be tolerated.
by Lynn-Linzer Kibebe
