The Embassy of the United States of America is shocked and appalled by the brutal and unprovoked June 9 attack on Member of Parliament and Chadema party Chairman Freeman Mbowe. The Embassy calls for an immediate, thorough, and impartial investigation, and for the rapid apprehension and prosecution of this assault’s perpetrators.
The Embassy notes that this senseless attack on an opposition leader is only the latest in a long series of disturbing acts of violence and harassment perpetrated against members of the opposition. The Embassy notes as well that one of those heinous acts, the September 7, 2017, attempted murder of Member of Parliament and opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains unsolved and again urges the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of those responsible.
The Embassy offers its sympathy to Member of Parliament Mbowe and his family at this difficult hour and wishes him a complete and speedy recovery.