Tanzanian and international media outlets reported on the abduction of the said African youngest billionaire Mohammed Dewji (43) outside a high profile hotel gym where he was going for his routine morning exercise.

Comment:

Abduction of Mohammed Dewji took place at a posh and highly secured area adjacent to many high government officials’ residence with many guards and about or more than 30 security cameras in place. This scenario reveals many questions than answers on the reality of security in Tanzania.

In recent years there has been a wave of abductions and killings of ordinary civilians, politicians, public figures, businessmen, journalists etc. While this latest one of this prominent businessman has enjoyed a far and a wider coverage and outcry in contrast with previous ones.

Apart from Dewji’s abduction, a number of abductions have taken place in recent years includes Ben Saanane, a high profile opposition party official, Azory Gwanda newspaper reporter of Cost region area, an area where many individuals in the hundreds, according to opposition MP Zitto Kabwe, were kidnapped and disappeared, with their whereabouts remaining unknown.

Also there is kidnaping of businessmen such as Samson Josiah and Peter Zakaria, three members of Hizb ut Tahrir in Tanzania who were kidnapped last year, than to be dumped away; not to mention disappearances of civilians and founding of dead bodies at Pwani/Cost region and Dar es Salaam shore respectively together with other incidences we have not mentioned here, all these pinpoint lapse and the failure of security apparatus to safeguard and protect people lives, wealth and dignity.

Whoever abductors are, and whatever motives might have, it is doubtless that capitalism ideology exposed itself to failure in proper serving and protecting humanity to the extent of allowing existence of evil gangs within and outside the security apparatus. As for within the security apparatus, Hussein Bashe (MP) once claimed before Parliament session that: “there are abductors within the security apparatus” (Zanzibar24, 10/04/2017)

In Dewji’s abduction in spite of security agents providing unconvincing statements, yet on the other hand they have shown a discriminatory element to care and serve the wealthy. If Dewji was not a billionaire, little or nothing could have been done about his whereabouts. Up to date little is known to the public on the many disappearances as well as the finding of dead bodies on shores of Ruvu River and Indian Ocean “Coco” Beach.

While we strongly express and share sincere and wholehearted concerns with Dewji’s family, friends and the public in general upon this incidence. We also appeal to the masses to scrutinize and raise a public debate on an alternative ideology apart from capitalism, another ideology that could offer peace, security and protection to all citizens regardless of their race, wealthy and belief. Of course it is only Islam under its Khilafah state (Caliphate) that enjoy those qualifications.

Said Bitomwa

Member of Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Tanzania