Social media abuzz in Tanzania as abducted billionaire Mo Dewji returns

What you need to know:

  • Tanzanians, from all walks of life, took to social media on Saturday October 20, some questioning the location where billionaire Mo Dewji was dumped.
  • Mo Dewji, who was abducted eleven days ago, has been found, amid mind-boggling questions.
  • Dar es Salaam police chief Lazaro Mambosasa said the abductors spoke an African language, likely from South Africa.
  • However, later during the day, the Inspector General of Police Simon Sirro told journalists in Dar es Salaam that the abductors spoke “broken Kiswahili and English.” Sirro didn’t name the origin of the suspected abductors.

Dar es Salaam. Africa’s youngest billionaire, Mo Dewji, who was abducted eleven days ago, has been found and according to police, the abductors dumped him late in the night in the grounds of Gymkhana Club, a multi-faceted sports facility located in the heart of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

However, the mysterious disappearance and return of the former politician, has set tongues wagging. A footage has shown a tired-looking Mo Dewji, dressed in a tee-shirt and jogging trousers, as he thanked the police and President John Magufuli.

Tanzanians, from all walks of life, took to social media on Saturday October 20, some questioning the location where he was dumped, Ghana Avenue in the city; and the manner in which Mo was reportedly dumped and how abductors vacated.

Tanzanian activist, Maria Sarungi, who runs an online campaign dubbed, "Change Tanzania” says she has been intrigued by one of her followers,   who wanted to know how abductors would ‘simply’ dump Dewji at a location close to State house, key government and diplomatic offices, and leave.

“How did they [the abductors] leave, by Uber (taxi)?” she wrote in Kiswahili on her twitter account, jokingly though.

Ms Sarungi is among several people who reacted on ‘the return’ of Mo Dewji, the 43-year-old CEO of a family conglomerate, MeTL Group.

January Makamba, a cabinet minister for environment and union matters in the Tanzanian government, said he had visited Mr Dewji and seen signs—on arms and legs—of how he had been cuffed and later dumped.  “I believe police would issue more details on what transpired,’’ he wrote on twitter, in Kiswahili.

A social media user, Webiro N Wassira, said, “I think one who abducted Mo Dewji is either over-confident or not with sound mind. How could this person abduct Mo, and dump him so close to a place close to the Vice President and Prime Minister’s office and the headquarters of the country’s intelligence? We need to revise our security systems kama nchi[of our country,” wrote Webiro on twitter.

Popular actor and comedian, Idris Sultan, said on twitter, this [incident] has helped “…to know your enemies and friends. Nothing can stop us now. I don’t know if it’s the right time to ask, but, is it Sirro who will get the money [the Sh1billion that had been pledged by a family for who would find Dewjis]?.”

Mr Godbless Lema, an opposition party politician and MP—Chadema, had announced earlier that he would hold a press conference today Saturday October 20 and brief reporters on his  stance on the abduction , as the shadow minister, has called off the press briefing.

“…I have called off the press conference, as I await to see part II of this incident. I leave this to IGP Simon Sirro, for now. I will inform you [the media] where and when we will meet,’’ he wrote on twitter.

Other politicians, such as ACT Wazalendo party leader Zitto Kabwe went on to express their delight for Mo’s safe return.

Dar es Salaam police chief Lazaro Mambosasa told The Citizen that he had already spoken with Dewji, who had told him that his abductors spoke an African language, likely from South Africa.

However, later during the day, the Inspector General of Police Simon Sirro told journalists in Dar es Salaam that the abductors spoke “broken Kiswahili and English.” Sirro didn’t name the origin of the suspected abductors. 

A social media user, Given Edward @GIVENALITY, wrote, “They made him do a press event immediately from being released. That was just messed up. Putting PR over his well-being.”

Last week, Mo Dewji was seized by unknown abductors as he arrived for a morning workout in Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Today, morning  METL Group quoted Mo Dewji as saying on its Twitter feed, without providing more details about how he was freed or got away from his captors., “I have returned home safely.”

Dewji’s family had offered a reward of 1 billion Tanzania shillings ($440,000) for information leading to his release