BY MUSSA JUMA, in Arusha
A Kenyan citizen died and several others seriously wounded after they were attacked by thugs on their way to the northern Tanzanian village of Samunge in Loliondo, for a portion of Mzee Ambilikile Mwasapile’s wonder drug.
The incident occurred on Sunday at Soitsambu village, near the Kenya-Tanzania border, when armed robbers hijacked two Samunge-bound passenger vehicles from Kenya.
Confirming the incident, acting Arusha province police commandant, Akili Mpwapwa, said that the thugs managed to make away with Ksh200,000. He identified the deceased as Charles Muriuki Kagema, 39, who was the drive of one of the vehicles. The others were taken to Wasso hospital, Loliondo in Ngorongoro district.
“Police have moved to the border area and a serious search for the culprits is ongoing,” said Mr. Mpwapwa.
One of the hijacked vehicles, according to the police, was a Toyota Hiace ferrying passengers to Samunge.
The incident comes at a time when there has been an influx of visitors to Samunge from outside Tanzania whose numbers are estimated to have reached 17,000 as at Sunday. However, security of patients headed to Samunge from neighbouring countries cannot be assured especially due to usage of some routes from the borders that have no police protection.
Ngorongoro district commissioner, Elias Wawa Lali, has asked vehicles entering Tanzania from neighbouring countries to use roads and border points that are legally recognized.
The only recognized border point from Kenya into Tanzania is at Namanga, which has immigration and other government officials.
Over 200 vehicles have been going to Samunge per day with most of them making the journey at night.
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