Sungusungu

Sungusungu (sometimes Sungu Sungu or Busalaman) are Tanzanian justice organizations established originally by the Sukuma and Nyamwezi ethnic groups in 1981 to protect cattle from theft and other property. These organizations operate at the community level and enforce a variety of different rules. The group was deputized by the Tanzanian government in 1989. In some regions "they ended up being more influential than the Tanzanian Police Force."[1] Human rights groups have criticized the organizations for being vigilantes who have murdered people without trials.[2] In neighboring Kenya, the name Sungusungu describes a particular vigilante organization which has been banned since 2007.

  1. ^ Dikgare, Mathunya (15 May 2011). "Vigilant Policing or Vigilante Policing?". City Press.
  2. ^ ""Treat Us Like Human Beings": Discrimination against Sex Workers, Sexual and Gender Minorities, and People who use Drugs in Tanzania" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch. 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2016.