Dar es Salam. The police have given secretary of the Council of Islamic Organisations in Tanzania Sheikh Issa Ponda three days to surrender himself for allegedly uttering seditious and abusive language.
Speaking
to reporters in his office yesterday, Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police
Commander (RPC) Lazaro Mambosasa said Sheikh Ponda committed the
offence on Wednesday during a press conference.
According
to the RPC, the cleric’s language ridiculed the government. Mr
Mambosasa added that he had to surrender himself between Thursday and
Saturday or else he would find himself’ in serious trouble.
“I
advise Sheikh Ponda to surrender himself because even if he runs away
it won’t help him because we will arrest him,” said Mr Mambosasa.
He added: “He knew he was breaking the law, when he uttered seditious words now he should be ready to face legal action.”
However, Mr Mambosasa didn’t disclose the exact words uttered by Sheikh Ponda.
The cleric has been finding himself in trouble on several occasions following his public utterances.
In
December 2016, he was set free after staying in remand prison for more
than two years over charges of incitement and instigating religious
hatred. Meanwhile, the police killed two suspected bandits in Kimara,
Dar es Salaam, on Wednesday at about 8pm.
They were
killed by the police on routine patrol, according to Mr Mambosasa at Kwa
Magalula in Mbezi on the outskirts of the city.
“The
police were called by a mobile money service shop operator after two
suspicious men went to his shop. The police arrived there and started
exchanging fire, hence killing the suspects,” he told reporters.
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