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 | | Friday, 18 January, 2002, 01:31 GMT Tanzania announces deaths inquiry  Zanzibar's hope for justice from the killings commission By Christine Otieno in Dar es Salaam President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania has announced the formation of a body to investigate the killings of opposition demonstrators in Zanzibar. The government says that a total of 27 people died when police broke up a political demonstration last year. Mr Mkapa's announcement of the inquiry commission late on Wednesday night came as a surprise, just 10 days before the first anniversary of the deaths. Pleased People, generally, have expressed pleasure at the president's move despite the lateness of the setting up of the probing body. "He is right to set up this commission up," said one Dar es Salaam resident.
"But I have no confidence in (the commission) it, because the government police force are responsible for those killings and Mr Mkapa appoints the members of the commission". "Do you think it's going to be fair?" he asks, before telling me that he would like members of the opposition parties included in the commission. Government cares One woman told me that she thinks that the president's decision demonstrates that "our government cares for the people". "At least people will know the truth". One group that should be happy with the formation of the deaths inquiry commission is the Civic United Front (CUF) party. Their supporters were the ones who clashed with the police during the street violence in Zanzibar. Reservations The CUF chairman, Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, explains how the party received the news.
"It has been received very well in that it was long overdue". "It was agreed in a memorandum between (the ruling party) CCM and CUF that an independent commission probe the events leading to the killings". However, Professor Lipumba has some reservations. "The only problem I have is the composition of the commission. "This is a legal matter and should involve legal people". He points out that where laws have been broken legal bodies should deal with the matter. "But this is not the case with this commission. So I am upset about that". Contention Another issue that is a contention is the number of people actually killed. The government maintains 27 people died but CUF have a different figure.
Professor Lipumba says, "From our reports from the communities that were affected, we think that more than 70 people died during these problems". "So that is one area we hope the probe team will work on - to get to the truth". The man the president has charged with heading this commission is retired Brigadier General Hashim Mbita. His credentials include being a former executive secretary of the Liberation Committee of the Organisation of African Unity. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Africa stories now:  Links to more Africa stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||
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