A police commander in Tanzania’s capital, Dodoma, has been removed from her position following controversial remarks where she appeared to link an alleged gang rape victim to sex work.
Earlier this month, a video showing a young woman being assaulted by five men went viral in Tanzania, sparking widespread outrage. On Sunday, the Dodoma police commander was quoted in a Tanzanian newspaper as suggesting that the “woman in question appeared to be engaged in sex work.”
The comment led to a public backlash, with accusations that it downplayed the seriousness of the woman’s ordeal. In response, Tanzania’s national police force issued an apology and announced that the commander had been transferred.
David Misime, the national police spokesperson, expressed regret, stating, “The police force would like to apologize to everyone who was touched and offended by the statement circulating in the media while monitoring is being done to find its accuracy.”
Misime also clarified that in her comments to the local newspaper *Mwananchi*, Dodoma Regional Commander Theopista Mallya had stated that even if the woman was a sex worker, “she did not deserve to be treated that way.” However, these words were not included in the newspaper’s report.
The viral video reportedly shows the suspects interrogating the woman and forcing her to apologize to someone referred to as “afande,” a term often used in Tanzania to refer to a soldier or police officer. This led many activists and social media users to express concern that the assault might have been ordered by a member of the security forces.
However, Commander Mallya told Mwananchi that the investigation revealed the assailants were not acting on any officer’s orders but were instead under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Despite this, she added that the woman appeared to be involved in sex work.
Following the uproar over her comments, Tanzania’s national police confirmed that Mallya had been transferred to police headquarters, though it remains unclear whether the move is temporary or permanent.