As a wave of crime hits the Tanzanian capital city of Dar es Salaam amid volatile security, a Libyan diplomat shot himself this week in the city.
Tanzanian police and hospital sources confirmed the incident, saying the acting Libyan Ambassador to Tanzania, Ismail Hussein Nwairat, had committed suicide by shooting himself while inside his working office at the Dar es Salaam city center. The Foreign Ministry of Tanzania also confirmed the incident, saying the Tanzanian government is working to investigate what caused the diplomat to take his own life.
The Foreign Ministry said Ismail Nwairat blocked himself in his office and committed suicide by shooting himself before his junior staff was able to break down the door, only to find his body lying in a pool of blood.
Dar es Salaam Metropolis Police Chief Mr. Suleiman Kova confirmed the death of the diplomat, but declined to comment, saying, the matter was still fresh in his office.
The Libyan embassy in Dar es Salaam and the Tanzanian government are working out modalities to transfer the body of the diplomat to Tripoli for burial.
Mr. Ismail Nwairat started his tour of duty to Tanzania few years ago and has been counted among Libyans who strongly opposed the leadership of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
According to journalists and political observers in Dar es Salaam, Mr. Nwairat stood firmly to oppose the past Gaddafi leadership, and on one occasion, to mark three years of Libyan liberation from Gaddafi, he was quoted as saying the late Libyan leader was a dictator, an oppressor, and a champion of human rights violation.
But, contrary to his comments, Tanzania has been a best friend with the former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Under the leadership of Gaddafi, Libya provided billions of US dollars to support Tanzania in various political and economic development programs and is among the leading investors in Tanzania, including tourism.
The late Muammar Gaddafi has attracted a good number of tourist investments to Tanzania, among them, the Bahari Beach Hotel on the Indian Ocean beaches in Dar es Salaam. In fact, there are a good number of Libyan investments in tourism and agriculture working in Tanzania, though not much publicized.
The death of this Libyan diplomat has added another fear among residents of this city who are living and conducting their business in fear of criminals who seem to have taken a control of the city. Despite its sweet name, Dar es Salaam is currently becoming one among dangerous cities in Africa to live and visit. Crime is the order of the day in Dar es Salaam where most residents live in fear.
There has been escalating crime in recent past months for which the secret police operatives warned could scare away potential investors and tourists. Police say the criminals are well connected with local politicians and corrupt officials within Tanzania’s government system.
Tanzania is now ranked among African countries with the highest crime rates. Last year a survey indicated that 40 percent of the population has experienced a crime and faced anxiety over possible crime. Reports say 44 percent of Tanzanians have been physically attacked between 2011 and 2012. Also, crime reporting in the country is very low with only 42 percent of people who were the victims of crime in 2011 to 2012 reporting the incidents to the police.
According to these reports, Dar es Salaam is becoming the most dangerous metropolis to visit in Eastern and Southern Africa due to escalating rates of crime.
Long traffic jams, lack of tourist information and support offices at key entry points including an overland bus terminal has fueled crime to visitors traveling by buses and hired vehicles.
