4 get life sentences in high-profile Tanzania gang rape trial

By Lulu Angelo Sanga

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) - A Tanzanian court in Dodoma has sentenced four men, including a soldier and a prison officer, to life imprisonment for the gang rape and indecent assault of a young woman from Dar es Salaam, in a case that has drawn significant public attention.

The convicted men include Clinton Damas Nyundo, a soldier in the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (JWTZ), Praygod Mushi, a prison officer, as well as Nickson Jackson and Amin Lema.

The Dodoma Resident Magistrate’s Court conducted the trial privately, with the prosecution presenting 18 witnesses and 12 exhibits to secure convictions.

The infamous case has been dubbed "Waliotumwa na Afande," or "Sent by the Officer," amid suggestions that a police official may have been involved, adding to the public outcry and controversy surrounding the case.

The defendants were charged with gang rape and indecent assault on the victim, identified in court as XY. They first appeared in court on Aug. 19, 2024. In addition to their life sentences, each man was ordered to pay Sh1 million ($367) in compensation to the victim.

The case received nationwide attention after a video of the assault went viral in early August, sparking outrage across Tanzania and beyond. The footage of the violent attack prompted widespread demands for justice, with many citizens calling for swift legal action against the perpetrators.

The public's anger intensified after Dodoma’s police commander made controversial remarks implying the victim was involved in the sex trade, leading to her removal from office.