Retired police officer Joseph Igumba Mwakabana spent decades serving Tanzania. He protected the public. He upheld the law. Neighbours trusted him because he was the kind of man who stepped forward when others hesitated. Yet in the early hours of November 3rd, 2025, it was uniformed officers like the ones he once served beside who ended his life on the ground of his own neighbourhood.
Joseph’s death was part of one of the most terrifying incidents of Tanzania’s post-election violence. On that night, eight neighbours who lived on Kanga-Kariakoo Street in Kinyerezi, Dar es Salaam, were lined up and executed outside their houses. The killings happened around 3 a.m. and left an entire community shattered.
This article honours Joseph’s life while acknowledging the horror that claimed him and seven others.
The Night of the Execution
The tragedy began when residents heard a disturbance coming from a nearby wholesale shop. Joseph, even in retirement, took responsibility for the safety of those around him. He guided his neighbours toward the scene and contacted the police for help. The men trusted him, and they trusted the police he had called.
When armed officers arrived, the neighbours expected order and protection. Instead, the officers ordered them to lie face down on the ground. The men obeyed instantly. They believed that compliance would keep them alive.
What followed was an execution.
One after another, the neighbours were shot at close range. Their bodies were dragged away in the night. The killers did not explain themselves. They did not answer questions. They simply ended lives that had once formed the backbone of this peaceful street.
Among the dead were two teachers, a bank officer, a driver, two shopkeepers, a small trader, and Joseph, the retired police officer who had called for help thinking the police would restore calm.
A Community in Fear and Mourning
Only two men survived. One of the victims, known by his street name Ostadh, begged for his life, telling the killers that he had just buried his wife and was the only one left to raise their six-month-old child. His plea caused a brief pause, which gave the two survivors a chance to run. They escaped, but the trauma has not left them.
Neighbours say that one of the survivors sometimes goes silent in the middle of a sentence. When that happens, they know not to speak. They let him sit quietly until he regains himself.
Residents of Kinyerezi still speak in low tones. They whisper because they are afraid of being heard. People lower their eyes because they cannot bear the pain of remembering. Women gather outside the victims’ homes in silent groups, waiting for news of missing bodies. Children remain indoors because the street that was once safe is now a reminder of terror.
When rain fell on November 4th, it washed away some of the blood and bone fragments that covered the street. Yet crows still hover in the area. Flies still swarm over the place where the killings took place. Only four bodies have been recovered. The remaining families search morgues and police stations every day. Some have begun discussing the possibility of holding funerals without bodies.
Funeral meetings in Kinyerezi are filled with forced conversations that try to distract from the grim reality. Whenever silence falls, the grief becomes overwhelming. People look down, hiding their anguish.
Who Was Joseph Igumba Mwakabana?
In the midst of this collective grief, it is important to remember Joseph as more than a victim. He was a son of Tanzania who believed in service.
Joseph was born on July 7th, 1961, and built his life on integrity. His neighbours speak of him with deep respect. They describe him as:
- A dependable elder
- A wise advisor
- A man who cared for the youth
- Someone who was always kind
- A person who helped even those he did not know well
He was the kind of man a community turns to during trouble. That is why he stepped out that night. Even after retirement, he felt it was his responsibility to protect his neighbours. He believed that calling the police would resolve the situation. He believed in a Tanzania that no longer exists.
His funeral service was held on November 6th at Kinyerezi Catholic Parish. The church was full of people who had benefitted from his guidance and kindness. His eldest son began reading the eulogy, but grief overcame him. He tried to continue, but tears fell uncontrollably. He had to stop midway.
Joseph’s body was then taken to Mbeya, his home region, where he was laid to rest.
Remembering the Others
Alongside Joseph, the community also buried or mourned:
- Aloyce Leonard Soka, a bank officer and father of two
- Shabani (“Ostadh”)
- Ignas
- Mustapher
- Abuu
- Mcheda
- Another unnamed trader
Aloyce’s funeral was held on November 7th, and his body was later transported to Moshi. Outside his home, his beloved vintage Volkswagen Beetle remains covered, a symbol of dreams that will never be fulfilled.
For the four whose bodies are still missing, funeral gatherings continue without end. Families sit in sorrow, waiting for something to hold on to.
A Nation in the Shadow of State Violence
The massacre in Kinyerezi is one chapter in a larger tragedy. Since the elections of October 29th, thousands of Tanzanians have been killed. Many deaths occurred during protests, while others happened in their homes, at shops, in cars, and in the presence of loved ones.
The official number of deaths is unknown. The government has remained silent. Communities have been left to mourn in fear.
These are not isolated events. These are coordinated killings that have broken the spirit of families across the country.
Joseph’s Legacy
Joseph served Tanzania faithfully. He believed in law, order, and protection. He believed that police uniforms symbolized safety. He believed that when trouble came, the state would act with honor.
He died discovering a terrible truth: the state had turned against its own citizens.
Today, we speak Joseph’s name loudly on behalf of those who cannot.
We remember his courage, his kindness, and his service.
We remember the street he died protecting.
We remember the neighbours who died beside him.
And we demand justice for them all.
May the memory of Retired Officer Joseph Igumba Mwakabana inspire courage in a nation afraid to speak.
May his life remind us that Tanzania’s future must be built on truth.
May he rest in peace.
