Govt acts as losses mount after devastating floods

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda’s entourage visits yesterday the site where a section of the bridge across River Magole in Dumila, Kilosa District, was swept away by floods on Wednesday, halting the flow of traffic on the Morogoro-Dodoma highway.  PHOTO | JUMA MTANDA 

By The Citizen Team

In Summary

• Pinda and Magufuli inspect damaged sections of key highway as repairs get underway.

Dar es Salaam/Morogoro/Dodoma/Mwanza. The government swung into action yesterday, delivering relief food to 3,000 displaced families and deploying machinery to repair the damaged sections of Dumila bridge that cut off transport on the Morogoro-Dodoma highway.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and Minister for Works John Magufuli, accompanied by other top officials of the regional administration, visited the washed-out section of the highway as restoration efforts got underway.

Traders, including those operating in neighbouring landlocked countries, counted their mounting losses as the road remained impassable for the second day running. Hundreds of passengers were stranded in Dodoma and Morogoro as some buses suspended operations. Those still on the road raised the fare by more than 100 per cent because they had to get to their destination via longer routes. 

The entire Morogoro region security team accompanied Mr Pinda on his inspection, during which he directed that the works ministry should ensure the section of the road that was cut off is open for business by Sunday.

The premier found at least 150 stranded lorries at the bridge while the body of an unknown male was recovered from the murky waters. Mr Pinda said the government had ordered the supply of relief food and humanitarian aid to displaced families in Mbigiri, Magore and Dakawa wards.

Morogoro authorities have reportedly recorded 300 families in urgent need of assistance. The PM directed Morogoro Regional Commissioner Joel Bendera to put up medical camps in anticipation of an epidemic, given the poor health situation that was developing.

The contractor deployed to repair the road will be encouraged to finish the job as fast as possible so normal services can resume. According to Minister Magufuli, High Quality Consulting and Development Solutions, a Chinese company that is now working on the Dumira-Morogoro-Kilosa road, has been given the contract.

Mr Magufuli disclosed that all senior engineers in the works ministry are on site and have been instructed to ensure speedy repairs so the road can be ready for use by the weekend. The minister also directed them to make sure that big culverts are constructed to avoid such damage in future.

The Tanzania People’s Defence Force and the National Service personnel were also scheduled to assist with humanitarian support for those affected.

Long distance transporters, local business people and ordinary travellers poured their frustration in the wake of losses amounting to millions of shillings.

Mr Magufuli had earlier said the state should not be blamed for the calamity. “This is a natural disaster that happens even in developed economies such as America and UK,” he added. “We are helpless in such a situation and the best we can do is see how best to minimise the effects.” 

In Dodoma, travellers were forced to suspend their journey as two bus companies said they would return only when the road was repaired. An agent at the main bus stand in the town, Mr Rashidi Zuberi, confirmed that Shabiby and Kimbinyiko bus companies had stopped operating while the others had raised the Dodoma-Dar es Salaam fare from Sh17,000 to between Sh22,000 and Sh30,000