A Tanzanian court has sentenced a man to 13 years in prison for manslaughter after he killed another man he found having sex with a woman he identified as his wife. Selemani Kiswamu was convicted by the High Court in Kigoma after evidence showed that he had strangled the victim, Festo Geraz, at a guest house in Nguruka Village, Uvinza District. The incident occurred on November 11, 2025, after Kiswamu suspected that the woman had been meeting Geraz at the guest house.
According to prosecution evidence, Kiswamu went to the Banjuka Guest House and kicked open the door to Room C, where he found Geraz and the woman naked. An argument ensued, and Geraz later died inside the room. Kiswamu was arrested and charged with manslaughter, which he denied when the charge was read and explained to him. The prosecution presented evidence from several witnesses, including an employee of the guest house and the village government chairman, who identified Kiswamu at the scene.
A medical officer who examined Geraz's body testified that the deceased had no heartbeat, confirming that he had died. The post-mortem report attributed the death to hypoxia caused by obstruction of the airways resulting from manual strangulation. The examination also found other signs associated with strangulation, including bleeding from the nose, an open mouth, and a protruding tongue that had turned blue.
In his defense, Kiswamu denied involvement in the killing, saying he had been charged with killing a person he did not know. He claimed that on the day of the incident, he was returning from the market and had stopped by the roadside near Banjuka Bar with his bicycle. Kiswamu said he saw a woman leaving the bar with another man and that the woman pointed at him and said, "It is this man."
However, High Court Judge John Nkwabi was satisfied that the prosecution had proved the charge against Kiswamu. Judge Nkwabi analyzed the evidence from both sides and found the prosecution's evidence credible and corroborated by medical evidence. The judge also noted that Kiswamu's own defense largely supported the prosecution's case, including his responses in court concerning his relationship with the woman who was in the room with the deceased.
In determining the sentence, Judge Nkwabi considered that Kiswamu was a first offender and that the punishment should also serve a rehabilitative purpose. The judge took into account mitigating factors, including that Kiswamu is still needed by the country and his relatives, and therefore a lenient sentence should be imposed. However, the judge also considered that Kiswamu committed the offence after being provoked by finding the woman he identified as his wife having sex with the deceased.
The sentence was delivered on October 2, 2026, and published on the Judiciary's website on October 5. Kiswamu's 13-year prison sentence brings an end to a case that began in November 2025. The incident highlights the consequences of violent actions taken in the heat of the moment, particularly in cases involving love triangles and disputes over relationships.
Key points
- A Tanzanian man was sentenced to 13 years in prison for manslaughter after killing a man he found having sex with a woman he identified as his wife.
- The incident occurred on November 11, 2025, at a guest house in Nguruka Village, Uvinza District.
- The prosecution presented evidence from several witnesses, including an employee of the guest house and the village government chairman.
