Politician protests release of artists convicted of rape

Rumba musicians Nguza Viking (also known as Babu Seya) and his son Johnson Nguza (popularly known as Papii Kocha) were part of 1 828 prisoners pardoned by President John Magufuli during Tanzania’s Independence Day celebrations on 9 December 2017.

During last week’s parliamentary session, Mtolea said “Cases of gender based violence are very rampant in Tanzania, therefore the government should be at the forefront of advocating for children and women rights.”

The presidential decision, he said, showed no regard for children victims of violence: “As a children rights activist, I am saddened by the president’s attitude towards gender related issues. Last year, he issued a directive that pregnant school girls should not be allowed to continue with their studies. He forgets that most of the girls were sexually abused.”

“As a nation," he added, "If we resort to pardoning child rapists and giving them special treatment, are we really advocating for children rights? What are we teaching the public?”

Nguza family arrest and conviction

Both musicians were arrested on 12 October 2003 along with two other Nguzas, Mbangu and Francis. Their arrest was on grounds of raping 10 girls aged between 6 and 8. The girls were primary school pupils.

Nguza Mbangu and Francis Mbangu were acquitted in 2010 following an appeal. The court upheld the conviction of Viking and Johnson. A second appeal in 2013 failed, but the pair of musicians have maintained their innocence. A request to test the potency of the Nguza patriarch to prove his innocence was dismissed.

Tanzanian cartoonist filmmaker James Gayo told Music in Africa that an MP can question a presidential decision especially if a section of the public they represent is not satisfied with a ruling.

“I think had it been a normal presidential pardon there wouldn’t have been such negative reaction from a section of the public,” he said. “The need for discussion on this issue should be welcomed but how much room is left for the public to discuss should be the question because the president has the power to pardon which means there is so little that the public can do.”

Gayo also said that, “The government is actually funding their recording at Wanene studios – the most sophisticated studio in Tanzania. The public is anxious to hear their music.“

Below, watch Mtolea speak in Swahili at the parliamentary session: