More questions than answers over poisoning of CCM deputy chairman Phillip Mangula

Police on Tuesday March 9, said that CCM’s deputy chairman (Mainland) Phillip Mangula was poisoned at the party’s headquarters on Lumumba Street, Dar es Salaam.

Speaking at a news conference, the Dar es Salaam Regional Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa said Mr Mangula collapsed while attending the party’s meeting which was meant to discuss several issues including disciplining of some of the party’s cadres.

“On February 28, the Police force in Dar es Salaam received reports that the deputy Chairman CCM Phillip Mangula had been poisoned while attending the party’s meeting at party’s headquarters,” said Mr Mambosasa.

He added: Mr  Mangula was rushed to Muhimbili National Hospital where he was admitted at the Intensive care unit, police in collaboration with other organs have since established that Mangula was indeed poisoned.

He said that how Mr Mangula was poisoned is a matter that is still being investigated, he, however, promised that the culprits will without fear or favour be brought to book to face the law soon.

It was at that meeting which was chaired by the CCM’s Chairman Dr John Pombe Magufuli that former minister of foreign affairs Bernard Membe was expelled, Abdulrahman Kinana was suspended for 18 months and Yusuf Makamba was pardoned.

Questions

However as Police launch a manhunt as promised by Dar es Salaam RPC Lazaro Mambosasa, there are questions that many are asking?

Where did the long serving party stalwart spend the night? What mode of transport did Mangula use to arrive at the party’s headquarters?  

What time did he arrive at the office and who did he meet and did they shake hands? Where did he have his breakfast, was it at the party’s headquarters or at his house? Who served him at both incidences and how was he served?

Poisoning of top officials

On November  12, 2019 while at the launch of former President Benjamin Mkapa book ‘My life My Purpose a Former President Remembers, President  revealed that while he was deputy minister of works during the third phase government, he was poisoned.

He said the poison almost took away his life and that it was mainly out of jealousy due to the good work that he was doing.

In February,2012, the then Speaker of Parliament is on records saying that Dr Harrison Mwakyembe had been poisoned despite the fact that the Health minister went of to refute the claims saying he had not seen the report.

The then Director of Criminal Investigations Robert Manumba later told journalists that they were certain that the legislator  had been poisoned.