Trader kills himself after big VIROBA stock impounded

A businessman has committed suicide after authorities seized from him a large consignment of liquor packed in plastic sachets, which have been banned by the government.

Mr Festo Msalia was found lying in a pool of blood at around 9pm in the municipality’s Msalato area and is suspected to have shot himself, according to Dodoma Regional Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa.

He said police found five spent cartridges at the scene, where they found Msalia unconscious with gunshot wounds.

He was taken to Dodoma Regional Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

Mr Mambosasa said Msalia was last Friday found in possession of about 1.5 tonnes of alcohol packed in banned plastic sachets popularly known as Viroba. The spirit was discovered in one of his liquor stores.

Police directed him not to sell the alcohol as further directives were being awaited from Dar es Salaam.

However, Mr Mambosasa said it was yet to be established whether the suicide and seizure of the consignment were linked.

“Those are just rumours...we are still investigating why he decided to take his own life,” he said.

Acting Dodoma Medical Officer Caroline Damian said they received Msalia at around 1am on Wednesday, adding that he had a gunshot wound to the cheek. He died shortly afterwards.

One of his friends, Mr Peter Olomi, said he met the deceased two days before his death and told him about his arrest.

“He told me that he was arrested after a stock of alcohol packed in sachets was seized from one of his stores and that he was released on police bond,” he said.

A relative, Mr Jonas Mazengo, said Msalia went to his house on Tuesday morning and told him about his arrest.

As they were chatting, Msalia received a call from the regional crime officer (RCO), who told him to report at the regional police headquarters. Mr Mazengo said he escorted Msalia to the police station at around 3pm.

“When we arrived at the station the RCO told us that the regional police commander wanted to talk to Msalia, but we had to wait because the RPC was in a meeting.”