Doctor’s murder shocks Makete community
By JAFFAR MJASIRI, 4th June 2011 @ 12:30,
The motive behind the murder of a specialist medical worker, Dr Jumbe Maphingo, who was working with Bulongwa Lutheran Hospital in Makete District, Iringa Region, remains a mystery.
According to the Iringa Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Evarist Mangala, police are still investigating the matter following the murder in which medical college students are implicated. The students are suspected to have attacked the deceased on May 23, this year, at his home.
Mr Mangala said that the police reached the crime scene on the very night the murder occurred. It, however, took the law enforcers about half an hour to reach the place. The distance between the police station and the crime scene is about 30 km.
The RPC said that four arrests have been made so far and that the suspects have already been paraded in a court of law. They are in remand awaiting completion of police investigation.
The RPC told this newspaper that the late Dr Maphingo was hit on the head by the suspects with a heavy object. The attack led to profuse bleeding. The victim died on the way to hospital.
The Police Commander said that the medical college, whose students have been implicated in the murder and arrested, continues with its operations as usual.
He said that in order to reinforce security the Police Force will involve members of the public in maintaining peace in the area as investigation into the murder continues.
However, sources at Bulongwa Lutheran Hospital have confirmed that there was a power struggle at the medical college, whose name is yet to be revealed. The college offers diploma education in dental therapy and certificates in nursing.
A source at the hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, said that it was clear that the late Dr Maphingo had been lined up for a “very senior position,” a situation that could have prompted his murder.
Describing the circumstances of the murder, the Hospital Administrator, Mr Edward Masevel, said that a female medical college student went to the deceased’s home at around 9:00 pm on the day of the murder.
He said that under normal circumstances students were not allowed to visit the doctors. He added that the female student’s visit was clearly a violation of college rules.
Independent sources told this newspaper that a gang of rowdy students appeared at the deceased’s residence wielding machetes and sticks soon after the female student entered the deceased’s house.
It was at this juncture the female student wailed complaining that she was being raped. The student gang entered the murder victim’s house and battered him to death. Following the murder seven students have been arrested including the female student.
The students are still in custody, according to the source. The Hospital Administrator also described the late Dr Maphingo as a good medical doctor who abided by professional ethics.
“We were all shocked to hear allegations of rape because this man had strong integrity in the community and in the medical profession,” he said.
Since the late Dr Maphingo was in charge of discipline in the college and had also been lined up for a higher professional post, it was likely that he had made enemies of some sort, he said.
“We don’t believe that he ever attempted to harm anyone. He was a very religious and ethical man,” he said. The administrator said that college authorities have been advised by police not to close the institute so that they allow investigation to continue smoothly.
Speaking to the Daily news on Saturday the District Commissioner, Ms. Zeinab said that she had attended the burial of the late Dr Maphingo and advised the Bulongwa community to remain calm and allow the law to take its course.
Some doctors who talked to this reporter described the late Dr Maphingo as a man of God.
According to Dr Issa, the late Dr Maphingo was strictly ethical and professional. He was a keen Muslim who made a pilgrimage to Mecca every year.
The late Dr Maphingo was born in Tanga in 1965. He studied in Russia for his first medical degree. He then joined Muhimbili University College of Health and Allied Sciences.
He worked for several years in government hospitals before joining Bulongwa Lutheran Hospital.
Source: SundayNews
Tags: Dr. Jumbe
