AFRICANEWS

TANZANIA

Justice Perverted

by Laurenti Magesa (580 words)

Resignation to naked injustice reigns in some parts of Tanzania. A clear example concerns the practices of the government-sanctioned vigilante groups known nationally as Sungusungu, a name referring to the bitter sting of the safari ants. It seems that the village populations are paralysed and do not know how to react in the face of blatant and repeated breach of their fundamental rights by these groups.

Sungusungu groups were sanctioned by government about a decade ago, probably to counteract corruption in the police force where it was easy for anyone with enough money to buy justice. Known criminals were walking scotfree and committing further offences. It was thought that Sungusungu, being locally organised, would not be easily corrupted. Evidence, however, proves that this assumption was wrong in a great number of cases.
Today Sungusungu act as accuser, judge and jury, and impose arbitrary punishment in the form of fines which they and their commanders pocket. They also prescribe beatings which can only be described as unacceptably cruel at this day and age. As Ernest Onditi, 30, owner of a small corner grocery at Ingri village of Tarime district in Northwestern Tanzania puts it, "Sungusungu has itself become a criminal organization. It is no longer interested in preventing crime but in enriching its members by illegal means."

On July 22, 1997, Ernest Almost fell victim to Sungusungu injustice. Unnoticed Sungusungu invaded Ingri village that morning accompanied by their commander from nearby Bukwe village, Odira Abayo. They proceeded to raid homes and arrest suspected thieves whose names they claimed to have received from sources in Ingri itself. Among the suspected thieves was Ernets's brother Andericus Ojuang, 43, who was away fish-mongering at the time. Andericus is an elected chairman of the Ingri land distribution committee.

Since he was away, Sungusungu seized Ernest's only three cows as fine for his "brother's theft" and would d not listen to his pleas that these were his, and not his brother's property. What was even more disturbing, they would not allow members of Ingri village government, including its chairman, Ismael Sarungi, to speak in Andericus' and others' defence.

Ernest's cows were only released when Kosese, the section executive, intervened ,on his behalf. But three ,other village members' property was seized though they themselves were not present.

In all 5 cows, 5 goats, 1 sheep, 1 bicycle and 8 chickens were confiscated and Tanzania shillings 22,000 was paid in fines. All confiscated property was auctioned by Sungusungu themselves except 1 cow, the sheep, the chicken and bicycle. These, the Sungusungu divided among themselves as their pay. "Why were these things not auctioned?" Mr. Sarungi wondered. "Everything that is seized in raids like this one is supposed to be publicly auctioned immediately and the money distributed according to established proportions between the Division, Section and village in question," he explained. "But in this case this was no t done!"
According to the village chairman, the property seized was worth Tanzania shillings 229,000 from which the village should have received TShs. 45,800. Instead the Sungusungu left only TShs. 39,100 and allowed no questions about the reminder.

Some of the Sungusungu operatives are known to be disgruntled youth who are also substance abusers. People like Ernest Onditi interpret their sometimes unconscionable behavior in this light. "What can we do to prevent this pervasion of justice?" Many Ingri villagers have asked the priests resident at the parishes here. They ask the church to help them to understand and defend their rights.

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