PWANI: THE ongoing heavy rainfall in the Rufiji District of the Coast Region has caused widespread devastation, leaving more than 88,000 individuals in dire need of essential services, including shelter, food and healthcare.
This was said yesterday by Rufiji District Commissioner, Major Edward Gowele during Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Vice Chairman, Abdulrahman Kinana’s special visit to offer condolences to the flood victims.
He said that out of the 13 wards in Rufiji, 12 have been affected by the floods. Assessments have revealed that 23,000 households have been affected, with a total of 88,000 individuals in need of essential services such as shelter, food and healthcare.
“In addition to homes being submerged by the floods, approximately 33,930.24 hectares of crops have been affected,” Major Gowele stated.
He also mentioned that two people, a 20-year-old woman and a one-year-old child, have lost their lives due to the floods.
“We have relocated the affected citizens to classrooms, but unfortunately, we have had to close some schools. For students currently in exam classes, we are arranging their transfer to neighbouring district schools,” he explained.
Major Gowele further noted that Mohoro Primary School, which was serving as a shelter for citizens, has also been surrounded by floodwaters.
Mr Kinana said the government should swiftly provide aid to the flood-affected residents of Rufiji.
Addressing the affected populace, Kinana stressed the immediate need for government action to alleviate their misery.
He further revealed discussions with Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa regarding the sluggish aid delivery, expressing dissatisfaction with its pace.
“People require shelter, healthcare and sustenance. Let’s streamline assessments and ramp up aid distribution; people are eagerly awaiting assistance, which should precede any further evaluations,” Mr Kinana urged.
Mr Kinana’s statements followed Coastal Regional Commissioner Abubakari Kunenge’s emphasis on the floods’ impact, underlining the urgent necessity for social support.The region will oversee aid distribution.
Engineer Dismas Mbote from the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) has shed light on the root causes of the flooding in Rufiji, attributing it to human encroachment and activities along the river channel.
“The water volume in the Rufiji River was once recorded at 13,000 cubic meters per second in May 1974. However, during March and April of this year, the volume of water flowing in the river was recorded at 8,444 cubic meters per second,” Eng Mbote explained.
Eng Mbote detailed the historical and current water volume data of the Rufiji River, highlighting a significant decrease from the peak levels recorded in May 1974.
Despite ongoing El Nino rains, the current water levels have not matched those of 1974, indicating that the flooding cannot be solely blamed on the presence of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP).
The engineer emphasised that when the government initiated the filling of water in the Nyerere Dam in 2022, it resulted in the blocking of all water from the Rufiji River.
Consequently, citizens moved closer to the river channel for agricultural activities and settlement, exacerbating the flooding situation.
Furthermore, Mbote pointed out that ongoing El Nino rains have exacerbated flooding not only in Rufiji but also in neighbouring areas such as Kilombero, Mvomero, Kilosa, Mlimba, Liwale, and Mbarali, despite these regions not being downstream of the Nyerere Dam.
Mbote highlighted the historical recurrence of significant floods in Rufiji District in various years, dating back to 1997, well before the construction of the dam.
These floods have resulted in property damage and loss of lives, suggesting that attributing the floods solely to the dam’s existence is inaccurate.
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