| Puzzle over ex-ambassador’s wife killing, one arrested | Send to a friend |
| Wednesday, 10 March 2010 10:37 |
 By Beatus KagashePolice have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Anna Mbago, who was the wife of former diplomat Andrew Daraja. Kinondoni Regional Police Commander Elias Kalinga yesterday confirmed the arrest of a 27-year-old man, a video library operator, even as the motive for the killing remained unclear. A post-mortem report released yesterday indicated that the deceased was stabbed three times, twice in the stomach and in the left breast. The suspect in police custody was being held for questioning over his reported friendship with a male servant at the retired ambassador’s residence, who disappeared after 65-year-old woman was stabbed to death. Police said it was the man who introduced the suspected assailant to the family four months ago. Mr Kalinga declined to issue further details, saying investigations into the murder were still in their early stages. Yesterday, Mr Dajaja told The Citizen at the family home in Kimara Temboni he was at a loss as to what may have led to his wife’s brutal murder. “Our house-help was honest, obedient and hardworking. What happened is unbelievable…it’s very difficult to tell exactly what happened because there are no witnesses. We trusted him, and that’s why I left him and my wife alone in the house,” he said. Asked about rumours in the area that the deceased may have been killed because of a dispute over the non-payment of workers’ salaries, the former ambassador refuted the claims, saying all his employees had been paid their February salaries. Other than the suspect who was on the run, the family employed a farm attendant who lived separately from the main house and who was apparently not aware of what had happened. Mr Daraja arrived home from Muheza on Sunday afternoon to find his wife dead in a pool of blood in the garage. He confirmed that Sh2 million he had left in his bedroom was taken after the entire house was ransacked. “All the cupboards and drawers were opened…clothes and other items were strewn all over the place. Only the money was missing. Other valuables like jewellery were intact.” Mr Daraja said the matter was now in the hands of the police, adding that relatives and friends were making arrangements for the burial on Friday in Muheza District. A funeral mass will be held tomorrow afternoon in Kimara. The couple had four children and one grandchild. Two of the children are based in the US. President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday sent condolences to the family, saying he had been shocked and saddened by the brutal killing. Mr Daraja had briefly served as the President’s diplomatic advisor before retiring in 2007. In a statement issued by State House last night, President Kikwete said he had known Mrs Daraja as a “kind and jovial” person. Retired President Ali Hassan Mwinyi also condoled Mr Daraja, who was his speechwriter before he was posted to German and later the US as Tanzania’s ambassador. Chief Secretary Philemon Luhanjo also visited Mr Daraja yesterday. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
