Speaking to reporters in Tanga yesterday, the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, said the government would act immediately upon getting word from the MP’s family to that end.
Ms Mwalimu told reporters that if the family wanted him to be treated in Germany, the US, India or wherever else, the government would meet the costs, adding that, the intention stretches back to the very day the lawmaker for Singida East was shot and critically wounded by unknown assailants.
The MP, who is also President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) was shot near his residence in Dodoma on September 6, this year. “The government will not refuse or fail to treat Tundu Lissu… he will be treated like any other Tanzanian… we are ready to ensure that he gets the best treatment possible outside the country,” she explained.
Ms Mwalimu, who is in Tanga on an official visit related to her Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, said the ministry had decided to set the record straight, in the wake of misleading information over Mr Lissu’s treatment.
“I take this opportunity to inform the public that the government has not failed to finance Honourable Lissu’s treatment as some people allege.... the information we have is that he is being treated in Nairobi....,” she said, asking reporters to inform the patient that the government was committed to finance his treatment anywhere in the world.
She stated that initially, government was ready to defray expenses of his treatment at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, but the politician’s family and close friends decided to take him to Nairobi Hospital, over which the government could not raise objections.
The minister said some ill-intentioned people could manipulate the ongoing fund raising initiative for Lissu’s treatment as a private moneymaking deal, stressing that the government had not failed to finance his treatment.
Meanwhile, the Chief Justice (CJ), Prof Ibrahim Juma, has referred to the shooting of the Singida East MP as a serious crime, calling on the public to allow the authorities to handle the matter independently.
Prof Juma made the remarks in Dar es Salaam, yesterday while briefing journalists on the forthcoming Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA) conference which is to be held for the first time in Tanzania from September 24 to 28, this year.
“The incident is an attempted assassination; it is not a light issue. If and only if anyone has evidence in relation to the incident, he or she should present it to court and not to the media,” he said.
He observed that the authorities were currently gathering necessary evidence on the issue for the matter to be presented in a court of law. “People should not be deceived that the nature of evidence on this regard will demand an expert from outside…. the evidence will be collected in Tanzania and by the authorities in the country,” stressed Prof Juma.
Explaining why the Judiciary had not issued any statement before, the CJ pointed out that they are bound by their nature of work and code of conduct. “As people operating under the Judiciary, we are not allowed to issue any statements or condemn the incident in matters that would be brought to court… this is the reason why we have been quiet,” the CJ explained.
He expressed misgivings over the pressure by various media organs and social media outlets to the Judiciary to speak. He described an incident whereby a magistrate was attacked and shot but due to their work principles, the Judiciary did not raise any noise, condemnations or comment of the issue.
“We should let the law and authorities do their work, if it happens that they have failed, then that would be the time for you to shout,” he said.
Commenting on a statement on the attack and shooting of Lissu from Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales, he confirmed having seen it and noted that what had been advocated for is a speedy investigation for the case, something which is already being done.
“Once investigations are completed and the matter is filed in court, we will handle the matter because that is our responsibility,” the CJ explained. The CJ further explained that the incident should be a wake up call for the country to evaluate itself in the fight against crimes.
“In big cities like Kenya, CCTV cameras have been installed almost everywhere on the main roads and people’s homes,” he explained further. Prof Juma added that evidence in the form of CCTV footage is accepted by courts, something which could be greatly helpful.
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