The widow of the late Daudi Mwangosi, Itika. PHOTO | CLEMENT SANGAThe Citizen Correspondent
Iringa. The family of the late Daudi Mwangosi plans to take the government and the Police Force to court over his brutal murder in what was the first-ever recorded case of a journalist slain in the line of duty in Tanzania, The Citizen on Sunday has learnt.The family hopes legal action will help bring to the surface the truth behind the journalist’s vicious killing according to his widow, Ms Itika Mwangosi, who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday at her home in Iringa last week.
The grief-torn widow said the family decided to sue because they feel government officials are not taking Mr Mwangosi’s death seriously. There aren’t any genuine endeavours to find out what really happened and to bring her husband’s killers to justice, says this struggling mother of four. Desperately fighting back tears during the entire interview, a visibly traumatized Itika said she is disappointed with the findings of the investigative team commissioned by Home Affairs minister Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi.
The Nchimbi report, which has been widely faulted for wasting precious tax shillings and for failing to deliver, never specifically pointed out who killed Mr Mwangosi. Nor did it explicitly hold the Tanzania Police Force (TPF) culpable for the journalist’s brutal slaying.
“After lengthy discussions, we have decided as a family to take this matter the extra mile. We plan to sue the government and the Police Force over the murder of my husband,” said Itika in a firm, but clearly distressed voice.
She is not looking to exact revenge on the government, she told this reporter. Rather, the single mum is out for justice and has decided she will seek refuge in the nation’s judicial system. She insists that all she wants is for the law to take its course.
Nothing will bring her greater comfort than to see her husband’s killers face justice. “We know some people are trying to cover up the truth; people in government who don’t want justice but I’m telling you we will leave no stone unturned on this,” said Itika. “Justice will be done,” added Mwangosi’s widow.
Two months after her husband of 10 years was killed on the job the horror of it all has yet to sink in. “I cannot come to terms with this - why was all that force used to kill my man?” a distraught Itika asks during our interview, to seemingly no one in particular.
“If you look at the pictures you can clearly see that my husband was surrounded by over seven armed policemen and they’re all beating him mercilessly. Was he armed to be treated like a bandit?” asks a tearful Itika.
Daudi Mwangosi was shot to death on Sunday September 2 as he covered clashes between law enforcement and supporters of opposition majority leaders Chadema at Nyololo Villlage in the district of Mufindi in Iringa.
This tragic event marked the first recorded case of a journalist killed in cold blood in the line of duty in Tanzania’s 50-odd years. Home Affairs minister Dr Nchimbi later confirmed that Mr Mwangosi had died from injuries sustained when an explosive teargas canister was shot directly at him, ripping his torso apart.
In the wake of this incident, a series of committees were tasked with investigating the journalist’s murder. Subsequent findings, presented on October 9 by the government probe team, were lambasted for their blatant disregard of events on the ground as told by eyewitnesses.
On the same day the Media Council of Tanzania released its report, which concluded that Mr Mwangosi had met a barbaric ending at the hands of police officials under the close watch of Iringa Regional Police Commander (RPC) Mr Michael Kamuhanda.
The following day the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance also released its report which said the police had trampled on essential human rights when they interrupted Chadema activities at Nyololo.
Two weeks after Mr Mwangosi’s untimely death, 23-year old police constable Pasifious Cleophace Simon was charged with his murder. The matter is currently being litigated.
None of this has brought closure to the slain reporter’s grieving widow though. “To me the Nchimbi report was a farce: Its findings were unrealistic, just another joke,” the soft-spoken Itika told this reporter.
“It’s totally false and in my opinion, the people behind the report did not do the public justice. I don’t accept it,” she said through muffled crying. She is furious that the government has not taken her husband’s killing seriously and says this is the reason Tanzanians no longer trust the authorities.
To the photojournalist that captured her husband’s final moment, she is eternally grateful. She said without people like him the truth would never have been known.
Despite her tragic personal loss and her immense pain, Itika takes the time to remember everyone who has been with her through this difficult period.
During our entire interview, she is a show of grace, taking time to thank those who have supported her and her family as they try to come to terms with Mr Mwangosi’s tragic passing. She singles out Iringa Urban legislator Mr Peter Msigwa, whose “exceptional assistance,” has seen the family get back on track, one day at a time.
According to her no government official, either local or national, has visited the fallen pressman’s family or sent any condolences. Still, the family has found the strength to carry on.
“My husband’s death was a total shock but I’m digging deep and finding the will to live on, and now, I’m stronger than ever,” said Itika.
“It’s two months since the untimely and brutal death of the man I dearly loved and trusted. This man was everything to me for he was always there for me. He was a loving and caring father to our four children. I loved him so very much,” she says.
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