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Tanzanian leader sacks intelligence chief

Xinhua, October 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Saturday sacked the Director of Criminal Investigation, Diwani Athumani Msuya, hardly a year after he was appointed to the post.

"President John Magufuli ... has annulled the appointment of the Director of Criminal Investigation," said the Chief Secretary, John Kijazi, in a brief statement.

Kijazi said the dismissal takes immediate effect, but did not give reasons for the move.

"Diwani Athumani will be assigned other duties ... the appointment of the new Director of Criminal Investigation will be announced at a later date," he said.

Diwani previously served as the Mbeya Regional Police Commander (RPC) before being transferred to the headquarters of the Tanzania Police Force in Dar es Salaam where he became the acting head of police intelligence.

He was appointed to the critical post of DCI by former president Jakaya Kikwete in May 2015, a post he held until he was sacked by President Magufuli on Saturday.

There has been a recent increase in incidents of organized crime in the country, including ivory smuggling and armed robbery.

Reports from other government insiders said the assassination of four police officers and theft of police weapons and several rounds of ammunition at the Mbagala suburb in Dar es Salaam in August was among the reasons for the DCI's forced exit.

Functions of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation in the police force include collecting and providing criminal intelligence to prevent crime and bust criminal networks.

The DCI is also responsible for leading investigations on serious crimes including fraud, ivory smuggling, armed robbery, narcotics, money laundering and economic crimes. Endit