The Tanzania Court of Appeal sitting in Mbeya has upheld the death sentences handed to three men convicted of killing a loan officer working for a microfinance institution.
The crime occurred on June 30, 2017, in the Isanga area of Mbeya in Tanzania.
The convicted men are Alex Mwakimbwala, Elias Mushi also known as Mangi, and Gidioni Ntulo, commonly referred to as Mwankinga. They were found guilty of murdering Victoria Manase, a 32-year-old employee of the microfinance organization BRAC.
At the time of the incident, Manase was carrying out her duties, which included collecting loan repayments and educating clients on financial management.
After completing her work, Manase entered a vehicle unaware that a group of men had already planned to attack her and were following her movements. During the journey, one of the suspects strangled her while the others stole the money she had collected along with her mobile phone.
Following the killing, the attackers dumped her body near the Isyesye cemetery before fleeing the scene.
Investigators later tracked the stolen phone using digital forensic methods, which helped authorities identify the suspects. Mwakimbwala was the first to be arrested.
During interrogation, he admitted involvement in the crime and identified the two other suspects. Mushi and Ntulo were later arrested and also admitted participating in the killing, although they later claimed their confessions had been forced.
In 2022, the Mbeya High Court sentenced the three men to death. They appealed the ruling, arguing that no witnesses saw them commit the crime and that their confessions were obtained under pressure.
However, the Court of Appeal dismissed their case, stating that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence, including investigation findings and witness testimonies.
The court therefore ruled that the death sentences imposed on the three men would remain in effect.