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- Jan 23, 2014
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A mission that was meant to arrest a suspected poacher ended in a tragedy yesterday after a game warden with the Kilimanjaro National Park (Kinapa) was mistakenly shot dead by a colleague.
The incident occured at 9am at Mbomai Nduweni in Rombo District and the officer died at Huruma Hospital where he was rushed in efforts to save his life. Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Geofrey Kamwela confirmed the incident saying that the police have launched investigations and have deployed a team of detectives to visit the crime scene.
"I can not divulge further details about the incident because I have sent a team of officers to start investigating the incident. We'll issue a statement tomorrow (today) after our preliminary report,'' he said without naming the name of the game warden who died following the incident.
However, eyewitnesses told The Citizen that game wardens were tipped-off that a man, carrying a chain-saw, was planning to go into the park to fell trees.
The game wardens went to the spot and ordered the suspected illegal tree feller to surrender, which the latter disobeyed. One game warden made a shot in the air intending to scare the suspect, however, the latter was unmoved and instead charged towards the officers with his chain-saw on.
Reports by game officers had it that the suspect's move caused panic causing them to retreat.
One eyewitness who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media said as the game wardens staggered backwards, one fell on the other. He said as the game warden fell on another, the latter's gun went off shooting the other in the shoulder. As officers were in a state of panic attempting to rescue the life of their colleague, the suspect disappeared unnoticed, said the source.
Kilimanajaro Regional Commissioner Leonidas Gama expressed his dismay at the incident saying the game warden died on duty while trying to protect natural resources.
He urged residents living on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to provide reports that would help uncover poachers and others who conduct illegal activities in the conserved areas.
Source:The Citizen
The incident occured at 9am at Mbomai Nduweni in Rombo District and the officer died at Huruma Hospital where he was rushed in efforts to save his life. Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Geofrey Kamwela confirmed the incident saying that the police have launched investigations and have deployed a team of detectives to visit the crime scene.
"I can not divulge further details about the incident because I have sent a team of officers to start investigating the incident. We'll issue a statement tomorrow (today) after our preliminary report,'' he said without naming the name of the game warden who died following the incident.
However, eyewitnesses told The Citizen that game wardens were tipped-off that a man, carrying a chain-saw, was planning to go into the park to fell trees.
The game wardens went to the spot and ordered the suspected illegal tree feller to surrender, which the latter disobeyed. One game warden made a shot in the air intending to scare the suspect, however, the latter was unmoved and instead charged towards the officers with his chain-saw on.
Reports by game officers had it that the suspect's move caused panic causing them to retreat.
One eyewitness who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media said as the game wardens staggered backwards, one fell on the other. He said as the game warden fell on another, the latter's gun went off shooting the other in the shoulder. As officers were in a state of panic attempting to rescue the life of their colleague, the suspect disappeared unnoticed, said the source.
Kilimanajaro Regional Commissioner Leonidas Gama expressed his dismay at the incident saying the game warden died on duty while trying to protect natural resources.
He urged residents living on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to provide reports that would help uncover poachers and others who conduct illegal activities in the conserved areas.
Source:The Citizen