When is it OK to kiss a
colleague? Two Tanzanian police officers, whose kiss was widely shared
on social media, have prompted a discussion about just that - and both
have also lost their jobs.
A relationship with a colleague can throw up any number of
complications, but the two young police officers in the picture may not
have thought it would end their careers. The photograph - taken in
Kagera, north west Tanzania - shows the pair kissing whilst dressed in
their work uniforms, and was considered grounds for dismissal. Residents
of the country have taken to social media to voice their dismay.
The image was uploaded to the internet by a third officer,
who also took the photo, and drawn to the attention of the authorities
at the Kagera police force. Henry Mwaibambe, the regional police
commander, spoke to the BBC about the steps taken, and defends his
department's decision. "We followed all disciplinary procedures to make
sure that they were given a chance to defend themselves," he says.
"The
officer looking at the case was convinced there was compelling evidence
against them, and that they had breached police code of conduct. That's
why they lost their jobs." In this case it wasn't the kiss itself that
led to their dismissal, but the fact that that it happened in public,
whilst in uniform, and was subsequently posted online. Indeed, the
officer behind the camera also lost his job over the incident.
The story was picked up by the local press last week, and
news of the punishment has surprised many on social media. Most believed
the response was disproportionate. "They should have been reprimanded,
sacking them is extreme, huuh! posted one on Facebook.
"I once saw a pic of former US President the late Reagan kissing his
wife in the Oval Office... and nobody called for his impeachment," said
another. "Police couple kissing taken more serious than bribery," wrote a third on Twitter.
Masoud George, a lawyer at the Tanzania Legal and Human
Rights Center says that as severe as the punishment seems, the decision
is unlikely to be illegal. "It is according to their code of conduct, so
from a legal point of view we can't say their dismissal was unfair."
Reporting by Sam Judah
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