Inspector Prisca Komba: Strong-willed woman

Her efforts have seen her receive nationwide recogntion. Here she’s holding her accolades PHOTO  I Salim Shao 

• Inspector Prisca Komba receives recognition for her relentless effort in helping women and children fight against injustice

The tears running down her cheek spoke volumes of her emotions and jubilation as she took to the dais to receive her award. And the two accolades she received epitomized her duty and mission of ensuring justice to women and children was not only served, but served at that right time.

There was no other better way for Assistant Inspector of Police, Prisca Komba, to celebrate last week’s Women’s Day other than being honoured with the Woman of the Year Achievement Award (Twaa) at a colourful ceremony held at Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam.

Inspector Komba was honoured for her relentless fight against women and child abuse at household level.

Gender desk at the police station

Famed for her compassion on vulnerable groups in the society, Inspector Komba pioneered and initiated the Police Gender desk at Oysterbay police as a way of helping those afflicted with child abuse, neglect and Gender-Based Violence in Kinondoni.

Her firm attitude on perpetrators of such vices has not gone unnoticed and she had to face competition from other personalities like Lazaro Nyalandu and Devotha Likokola.

But on this night, not even the tunics and insignias on her police uniform, or even the baton she held around could stop her tears.

“You see I’m a very compassionate woman that cannot stand the sight of women’s and children’s sufferings,” says Inspector Komba, three days after winning the award.

The 48 year-old was instrumental in coming to the rescue of raped children, women battered by their husbands and cases of child neglect that were too common in the country.

She had at a great deal assisted those who were in pursuit of justice and helped them find a lasting solution to their problems.

“The laxity of handling children and women cases by our courts is so worrying that incidents of child abuse and other vices have gone unabated.

“A case of a recently abused child in Tegeta is still dragging within the corridors of our courts; the reason being they were still investigating the matter, what are they investigating when the evidence is right there?”