A court in Tanzania has sentenced four men to life in prison for the gang rape and sodomy of a girl under 18, a case that has sparked widespread outrage across the nation.
Among those convicted are Clinton Damas, a member of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force, and Praygod Mushi, a prison officer.
The other two defendants are Nickson Jackson and Amin Lema. Each man has also been ordered to pay the victim 1 million shillings (approximately $370; £275).
A fifth suspect, a senior policewoman accused of orchestrating the assault, is set to stand trial separately in October.
The case has sent shockwaves through Tanzania, a country known for its conservative values.
Outside the Dodoma Resident Magistrate’s Court, defense lawyer Godfrey Wasonga expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, claiming that certain legal provisions were violated during the trial.
In contrast, numerous activists, celebrities, and human rights advocates have lauded the court’s decision on social media.
The incident drew further attention when a video of the gang rape circulated online in August, prompting police to warn the public against sharing the footage to protect the victim and her family from further distress.
Tanzania is grappling with a rising tide of gender-based violence, with many incidents going unreported, according to local reports.
The Legal and Human Rights Centre issued a warning last month, stating, “Ignoring these issues will only lead to their increased occurrence in our society.”
Source-BBC
