Mangochi council chair assaulted

Mangochi Town Council chairperson Ibrahim Kacheya had a rude awakening on Tuesday when a highly charged group of people calling themselves concerned citizens roughed him up allegedly for “lacking manners”.

In an interview, Mangochi Police Station spokesperson Rodrick Maida confirmed the incident, saying the station received a complaint from Kacheya about his assault.
He said: “Yes, the complaint came this morning around 11 o’clock by the chairperson himself. He lodged a complaint of being roughed-up by Mangochi Concerned Citizens. We have assisted him with a medical report to go to the hospital for medical attention.

“At the moment, I cannot divulge more information on his condition. We will wait for the medical report while police are investigating the issue. Once we get more information, I will come back to inform you.”

Efforts to talk to chairperson of the concerned citizens, George Hamisi, proved futile as his phone was out of reach.

But during a news conference the concerned citizens held a week ago, Hamisi declared that his group would take Mangochi Town Council officials to task over their alleged corrupt practices.
Among other things, the council is accused of procuring 350 chairs at K1.6 million instead of K1.18 million. They are also accused of spending K1.2 million on construction of two water kiosks initially budgeted at K350 000 each. The concerned citizens also mentioned the missing of 350 iron sheets for a project as another suspicious development.

Mangochi Concerned Citizens was established on February 8 this year as a forum to demand accountability from duty-bearers or service providers alleged to be involved in corruption or fraud.