Dar Police block prayer assemblies

Dar es Salaam.Police in Dar es Salaam special zone has said it will not allow any illegal assembly that would be arranged for prayers.

The warning comes at a time when the main opposition party, Chadema youth wing (Bavicha)has announced the plan to lead national prayers on Sunday for Singida East Member of Parliament Tundu Lissu, who is hospitalised at Nairobi Hospital, Kenya.

The special zone police Commander, Lazaro Mambosasa, made the statement on Friday, September 15 at a press conference, saying those wishing to do so, must follow the set down procedures.

He said they were not prohibiting prayers, but wants to see that in doing so rules and laws of the country are respected.

“It’s a normal practice for residents of the special zone to hold prayers, but they have been doing so following procedures,” he said adding:

“If someone comes from Kimara another from Mwenge and they met in Msimbazi just for prayers, that won’t be prayers any more but illegal demonstrations which are unacceptable.”

The RPC reiterated that the ban isn’t applied to those who will conduct prayers in their churches.

Mr Mambosasa said prayers are held at the special places but the move by groups of people to meet at one place and start a journey to their praying station won’t be accepted as it is against the law.

Speaking about the members of the main opposition party Chadema who were reported to be arrested in Temekethe RPC said they are grilled for criminal offences.

“They know what they have done, they are criminals that is why we arrested them, it’s not because of blood donation as it has been reported,” he said.

In other development, Mr Mambosasa said three suspected robbers have killed by police in exchange of fire

 in Mbiku, Chamazi area in Temeke district.

According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday September 13, when they were in an attempt to invade the mobile money transaction posts.