Azory Gwanda Disappeared in November 2017 while investigating a string of murders of police and government officials in Southern Tanzania, an area notorious for extremist groups and criminals. The Tanzanian government has not officially confirmed his death, while at the same time a Tanzanian Foreign minister Palamagamba Kabudi told a CPJ Deputy Director that the journalist is dead. No formal investigation by the Tanzanian government has been made following Gwanda’s death.
Gwanda worked as a journalist for Mwananchi Communications, a Tanzanian media company. He was last seen by his wife while leaving their farm home “on important business” in a white Toyota SUV with “unknown” men. Gwanda’s co-workers claim he had an intense story about gangs of motorcycle assassins in the area that target government officials and police. Even though the target of the story were cop-killers, the police have made little effort to find Gwanda, instead focusing on breaking up the motorcycle gangs.
A strange note to add is that the motorcycle gangs usually did not kidnap their targets, rather they would perform a drive by shooting, leaving the body as they fled the scene. They would carry out their attacks expecting the body to be found, anyone they did take would usually be held for ransom.
Two a hours after his disappearance, Gwanda’s wife Pinoni said she returned to their home being ransacked. The damaged indicated that the people responsible were looking for something of importance. It is unknown what they were looking for or if they found it.
After 2 years of pressure from Gwanda’s family, friends, his co-workers, and journalists all over the world the Tanzanian government has still not found a trace of him. Many free press organization criticize government officials for not trying hard enough and allowing journalist to be harmed, impairing free speech and free press.
-https://www.mwananchi.co.tz - Mwananchi Communications
-https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tanzania-media/tanzania-says-does-not-know-whether-missing-journalist-is-dead-or-alive-idUSKCN1U61NO - Article from reuters about the disappearance
-https://www.facebook.com/azory.gwanda - Gwanda’s FaceBook
-https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/tanzanian-journalist-missing-after-murder-reports-20171205 - One of the first reports after the disappearance
-https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/oped/1840568-4238692-ft8dnez/index.html - Translated Tanzanian journal on Gwanda
-https://www.ippmedia.com/en/news/voices-concern-intensify-over-whereabouts-missing-journalist - Closer look at Gwanda’s wife’s story
-https://cpj.org/2018/11/one-year-after-disappearance-cpj-calls-for-credibl.php - CPJ’s point of view
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