The minister for Legal and Constitutional Affairs,Reports on excessive use of force at rights Commission on rise

The minister for Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, informed Parliament in Dodoma yesterday that between 2010 and 2016, a total of 13,707 such cases were presented to the commission for proper investigation and subsequent action.
“Land disputes between farmers and investors, farmers and livestock keepers, local communities against national reserved areas and flogging of suspects before being proven guilty by courts of law featured high in the grievances filed. Out of the number, 6,169 cases were concluded while 7,540 others are still under investigation for appropriate action,” Mwakyembe explained.
He was responding to a basic question by Mtambile MP Masoud Abdalah Salim (CUF) who wanted to know about the number of cases presented to the Human Rights Commission and Good Governance and the kind of response offered in the last five years.

“Apart from the reported cases and action taken for redress, the commission carried out investigations over rights for children, crime against people with albinism and visited prisons to learn about incidents of violation of human rights and finally embarked on community education on human rights and the basics of good governance,” the minister explained.

However, delayed justice to suspects in custody (remandees), added the minister, in addition to assault on women and children were brought to the attention of the commission currently working on such cases for the convenience of the public.

However, in his supplementary question Masoud Salim demanded clarification on the fate of Zanzibar clerics whose case was yet to be determined after three years of confinement in the Mainland.

Another MP, Ally Salehe (CUF), raised similar questions, saying it was a public case that required a comprehensive answer considering that the incarcerated clerics had repeatedly complained about sexual abuse and other related torture.

The minister pledged personal in-depth investigation into the matter, insisting that the final report on the subject would be presented before the Speaker of the National Assembly.

However, the Deputy Speaker warned legislators against using abusive language and instead select their words when making statements in public.

The clerics were accused of inciting violence in Zanzibar and were tried in the Mainland but are still in custody awaiting determination of the charges facing them.