The Speaker of the Tanzanian National Assembly, Job Ndugai, on Monday said that Tanzanian police have arrested 10 businessmen in connection with the recent killing of 10 children in the country.
Ndugai said the men were arrested in Njombe and Makambako towns.
The Speaker announced the arrest as four more children were reportedly killed in Njombe region over the weekend, bringing to 14 the number of children killed in the region over superstitious beliefs.
Ndugai appealed to the government to present in the National Assembly a detailed report on what was going on in Njombe region and on measures taken to contain the situation.
“Security organs must team up to end the brutal killings of innocent children. The government should table its report in the House by the end of this week,” the speaker said.
Ndugai added that such grisly incidences had tarnished the country’s image.
Joram Hongoli, a Member of Parliament for Lupembe Constituency, said the situation in Njombe region had been tense and that businesses were at a standstill over the fear.
Parents have stopped working to enable them to escort their children to and from school, he said.
The legislator warned that failure to address the problem would result in the killing of many more people, as residents have started attacking people they suspected to be involved in killing the children.
“Two people have been allegedly killed by angry mob in Ludewa and Waning’ombe areas,” said Hongoli; adding that several others have been attacked and injured after they were suspected to be the killers of the children.
Jenista Mhagama, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for policy, parliamentary affairs, labour, employment, youths and the disabled, said the government needed more time “to come up with a detailed report of what had been done so far.”
Last week, Minister for Home Affairs, Kangi Lugola, associated the killings of children in Njombe with superstitious beliefs.
He said security organs had identified some of the people involved in the killings and that they would soon be arraigned.