ELCT’s Bishop Bagonza Demands Action as Kidnappings and Torture Escalate in Tanzania

By Adonis Byemelwa

Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese, has issued a fiery condemnation of the escalating kidnappings and torture plaguing the nation.

In a powerful statement, he called on the government to take immediate and decisive action to protect its citizens, emphasizing that silence and inaction only embolden the perpetrators and undermine public trust.

Citing the recent abduction and shooting of Edgar Mwakabela, known as Sativa, in Katavi, Bishop Bagonza emphasized the urgent need for government intervention.

Bagonza emphasized the government's responsibility to protect its citizens, stating, "The life of a citizen is the life of the government.

Kidnapping, torturing, and killing a citizen is akin to kidnapping, torturing, and killing the government." He called on the government to reject being subdued by these acts of violence and to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

"The government should not allow itself to be kidnapped, tortured, and killed by unknown assailants. I believe they are known. How can roadblocks that collect taxes fail to identify them?" he questioned, challenging the effectiveness of current security measures.

Bishop Bagonza warned that the government's silence on these crimes might imply complicity, suggesting that the government is being held hostage by these unidentified criminals.

He urged the government to distance itself from these acts to maintain public trust and support.

"We did not elect unknown assailants. We do not allocate a budget for them. The government is known. It must stand up and disassociate itself from these kidnappers, torturers, and murderers," Bagonza asserted.

Addressing the perpetrators directly, he demanded they cease their actions immediately, whether acting on orders or of their own volition. "Citizens have the power to rise and defend their government," he proclaimed.

The issue of abductions in Tanzania is not new, stretching across multiple administrations from Jakaya Kikwete, John Magufuli, to the current presidency of Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Despite leadership changes, the pattern of violent abductions continues unabated, raising alarm among human rights advocates and the general populace alike.

In addition to these abductions, the killings of albinos have cast a long, dark shadow over the nation.

Under Kikwete's administration, the brutal murders of albinos, driven by superstitious beliefs in their body part's supposed magical properties, drew international condemnation.

Magufuli's tenure also saw a continuation of such atrocities, with limited success in curbing the violence despite stronger rhetoric and some high-profile arrests. Now, under President Samia, the government's commitment to eradicating these heinous acts remains under scrutiny.

Bishop Bagonza pointed to the government's swift action in capturing the murderers of an albino child in Kagera within 24 hours as evidence of its capability.

"We are accustomed to believing that the government has long arms. If it appears short-armed in any incident, then it is involved," he remarked, urging the government to state to clarify its stance and demonstrate its commitment to justice.

Critics have also taken issue with the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) for their perceived silence following Edgar Mwakabela's abduction.

Some accuse the Centre of focusing on less significant issues, while others suggest it has been intimidated into silence by the ruling machinery.

"The LHRC's hesitation to address Mwakabela's case is troubling. It's as if they've been muzzled, abandoning their duty to stand against human rights violations," a critic lamented.

Bishop Bagonza stands as a beacon of courage, akin to the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, unafraid to speak his mind and confront injustice head-on.

 "While many leaders remain cloistered within their churches, condemning evil spirits without taking tangible action, Bishop Bagonza's vocal stance is a powerful reminder of what true leadership looks like," noted a supporter.

He concluded with a warning about the potential escalation of these crimes, noting that the boldness of the kidnappers might lead them to target unexpected individuals. "Kidnappers have no limits once they taste success.

There will come a day when they will kidnap someone we never expected to be kidnapped. The government will want us to make noise, but we will fail because we are not used to it," he cautioned, calling for open and continuous dialogue to address these issues.

Edgar Edson Mwakabela, whose mysterious disappearance sparked the viral campaign #WhereIsSativa, has been found alive under shocking circumstances. Mwakabela was revealed dumped in Katavi National Park, days after he went missing on June 23, 2024.

In a video that confirmed his survival, Mwakabela was seen sitting in distress, expressing pain from injuries sustained during captivity. "Please help me, my head hurts, my legs are swollen," he pleaded with rescuers.

Upon his rescue and subsequent hospitalization, Mwakabela revealed harrowing details of his abduction.

He disclosed being taken to an unexpected location—the workshop at Oysterbay Police Station—where he was held overnight before being transported hundreds of kilometers across the country, first to Arusha and then to Katavi.

During his captivity, Mwakabela recounted being shot in the head, miraculously surviving as the bullet passed through his jaw.

The motives behind Mwakabela's kidnapping remain unclear, though speculation on social media links it to his advocacy for traders' rights and reported tensions with pro-government figures. Outrage has surged online following revelations that a police facility may have been involved in the abduction.

Bishop Bagonza's impassioned plea serves as a rallying cry for all Tanzanians to demand justice and accountability, reinforcing the essential role of outspoken leaders in the fight against oppression and violence.