A Tanzanian court has sentenced four men to life imprisonment for their involvement in a gang rape that sent shockwaves throughout the nation, following the circulation of a viral video of the assault on social media.
The verdict was confirmed by prosecutors on Monday, marking a significant moment in a case that has ignited widespread outrage and calls for justice.
The sentencing took place at the Dodoma court, which also ordered the convicted men to pay one million Tanzanian shillings (Ksh 22,000) to the victim.
The brutal attack occurred in May but garnered significant public attention in August when Boniface Jacob, a former mayor of Ubungo, publicly condemned the incident on X, triggering a wave of protests from human rights organizations.
The four men, who were arrested five days after the viral post, pleaded not guilty.
However, they were convicted after a closed trial designed to protect the victim’s identity.
Following the verdict, defense attorney Godfrey Wasonga indicated plans to appeal, citing what he termed legal deficiencies in the charge sheet that the court allegedly overlooked.
Tanzania’s Legal and Human Rights Centre condemned Mallya’s comments, arguing that no individual, regardless of their circumstances, should be subjected to violence or assault.
“Does the fact that someone is engaging in sex work justify being subjected to acts of violence like rape?” the organization questioned, underscoring the need for a cultural shift in attitudes toward victims of sexual violence in Tanzania.
