The harrowing crime took place in Yombo Dovya, a neighborhood in Dar es Salaam. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
Dodoma. In a landmark case that has gripped East Africa, the Dodoma Resident Magistrate's Court has sentenced four men to life imprisonment for their involvement in a heinous gang rape and unnatural offense against a young woman.
The high-profile trial, which drew widespread attention from across the region, concluded today, September 30, 2024. Among the convicted are MT 140105 Clinton Damas, also known as “Nyundo,” a member of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), and C.1693 Praygod Mushi, an officer from the Tanzania Prisons Service. Their co-defendants, Nickson Jackson, known by the alias “Machuche,” and Amin Lema, also referred to as “Kindamba,” were sentenced alongside them.
The harrowing crime took place in Yombo Dovya, a neighborhood in Dar es Salaam, where the victim was brutally assaulted by the four men. The case, Criminal No. 23476 of 2024, sent shockwaves through the community, sparking national outrage and calls for justice.
The four perpetrators, who were infamously dubbed the “Afande Hit Squad” due to their military and security affiliations, were found guilty of gang rape and forcing the victim into unnatural acts.
In delivering the sentence, the magistrate emphasized the severity of the crime, noting the trauma inflicted upon the victim and the need to send a strong message against sexual violence. In addition to their life sentences, each of the convicts was ordered to pay Sh 1 million as compensation to the victim, a symbolic gesture aimed at providing some form of restitution.
The case has become a rallying point for human rights advocates, who see the ruling as a critical step in addressing the culture of impunity surrounding sexual violence in Tanzania and across East Africa. This historic verdict is expected to resonate widely, signaling a tougher stance by the judiciary on such heinous crimes.