A police commander in Tanzania’s capital, Dodoma, has been removed from her position after making controversial remarks that linked an alleged gang rape victim to sex work, sparking public outrage.
Earlier this month, a video went viral in Tanzania showing a young woman being assaulted by five men. The disturbing footage ignited a wave of anger and concern across the country.
On Sunday, Dodoma Regional Police Commander Theopista Mallya was quoted in a Tanzanian newspaper as saying the woman in the video “appeared to be engaged in sex work.” This statement led to backlash, with many accusing her of downplaying the gravity of the assault.
In response, Tanzania’s national police force issued an apology and announced the commander’s transfer. “The police force would like to apologise to everyone who was touched and offended by the statement circulating in the media,” said national police spokesperson David Misime on Monday. He also noted that an investigation was ongoing to verify the accuracy of the reported remarks.
Ms. Mallya had further clarified in her comments to the newspaper Mwananchi that even if the woman was involved in sex work, “she did not deserve to be treated that way.” However, this part of her statement was not included in Mwananchi’s initial report.
In the video, the men seen assaulting the woman reportedly interrogate her and force her to apologize to someone referred to as “afande,” a term commonly used in Tanzania to refer to a police officer or soldier. This led many activists and social media users to express concern that the attack could have been ordered by a member of the security forces.
However, Ms. Mallya later stated that the investigation found the perpetrators were not acting on any official orders but were under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Despite this, her remarks regarding the victim’s alleged involvement in sex work drew widespread criticism.
In the wake of the controversy, the national police confirmed that Ms. Mallya had been transferred to police headquarters. It remains unclear whether this transfer is temporary or permanent.