Wednesday, December 28

Mkulo, Zitto lock horns on inflation(via The Citizen) by zittokabwe

By Alawi Masare
The Citizen Reporter Dar es Salaam.

Finance and Economic Affairs minister Mustafa Mkulo has countered the recent assertion by his parliamentary shadow counterpart, Mr Zitto Kabwe, that the spiralling inflation that had persisted over the past six months had caused a six per cent budget deficit.Mr Mkulo argues that there is no significant relationship between the two variables, but in a quick rejoinder, Mr Kabwe (Chadema-Kigoma North) expressed amazement at the minister’s reaction.Speaking to this paper yesterday from Kigoma where he is on end-of-the-year holidays, he remarked that “the ministry is out of touch with the basics of the economy”.

Mr Mkulo’s reaction was in response to comments made by Mr Kabwe last week, against the backdrop of the inflation rate chalking 19.2 per cent in November.Mr Kabwe, who also doubles as deputy leader of the official opposition in the Parliament, said the government’s capacity to pay for goods and services had been diminished by six per cent by the growing inflation.He warned that the deficit (equivalent to Sh780 billion) would affect the economy seriously if it was not contained immediately.

However, Mr Mkulo told The Citizen on Monday that the said deficit didn’t feature in the budget which he tabled in the Parliament in June this year.Brushing aside Mr Kabwe’s comments, he was emphatic that the government would proceed with implementation of its budget as planned.He accused Mr Kabwe of misleading the public on the issue, characterising his sentiments as political gimmickry associated with his being in the opposition camp.

Mr Mkulo remarked in a telephone interview: “I am the minister who supervises the data body (National Bureau of Statistics-NBS) and the central bank, but so far, no such information has been brought to my notice. Where did he get it?”

Generally, the government may run a budget deficit when its expenditure exceeds total tax revenue in a given year. And one of the factors which might diminish the government’s purchasing power is spiralling inflation, according to economists.

As part of a verbal ping-pong, Mr Kabwe wondered who, between him and Mr Mkulo, was politicising the matter. “Any economist you would talk to would tell you that increasing inflation is not healthy for the budget.” “He has demoted our country from a stable economy to the current situation in which even macro economy fundamentals are starting to become unstable; it is high time he vacated the office,” Mr Kabwe furiously remarked.

Mr Kabwe said if Mr Mkulo could not fathom the impact of increasing inflation on the national budget, then “he is out of touch with economic fundamentals and is not supposed to handle such a high portfolio in the government.” When the budget was endorsed in July, the inflation rate was recorded at 13 per cent and by last month it had jumped to 19.2 per cent. According to Mr Kabwe, the trend means that the government’s capacity to pay for goods and services has been reduced by about six per cent, equivalent to Sh780 billion evaporating from the budget within four months of its implementation.

According to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT)’s September monthly economic review, during August 2011, government budgetary operations on cheques issued, registered a deficit of Sh112.1 billion after adjustment to cash.

Economists fear that the government would either jump into borrowing or cutting expenditure, hence increasing debts or sometimes denying the public of vital services.

“If the government is running a budget deficit, it has to borrow this money through the issue of government debt such as Treasury Bills and long-term government bonds,” commented Dr Honest Ngowi of the Mzumbe University Business School.He added: “Sometimes it may decide to cut expenditure, which I think is a bad option because by so doing it will not implement some important projects planned earlier.”

He also warned that the second half of the financial year may require more expenditure following the increase in allowances for MPs and widen the deficit.“The recent floods in Dar es Salaam and some other parts of the country are also increasing government spending,” he noted.

Source: The Newspaper

Tuesday, December 27

Kombora mbio za urais 2015 - Mwananchi Monday, 26 December 201

Mchungaji Lusekelo asema kuwaza sasa ni utoto wa moyo, Sitta: urais unakuja wenyewe Fidelis Butahe MCHUNGAJI wa Kanisa la Maombezi, Anthony Lusekelo amesema mbio za urais za 2015 zitalipeleka taifa kubaya huku akisema wanaofanya harakati hizo kwa kasi hivi sasa ni sawa na watu wenye “utoto wa moyo.”Wakati mchungaji huyo akisema hayo, Waziri wa Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki, Samuel Sitta amesema anachukizwa na tabia ya baadhi ya watu kuota urais kila siku na kuacha kuutumikia umma ambao umegubikwa na kero nyingi ikiwemo umasikini.
Kauli za Mchungaji Lusekelo na Sitta zinakuja kipindi ambacho baadhi ya wanasiasa wamekuwa wakipigana vikumbo kuwania kumrithi Rais Jakaya Kikwete mwaka 2015, huku CCM kikiri kuwa mbio hizo zimekiongezea mpasuko.
Hivi karibuni sekretarieti ya CCM ilipeleka kwenye Halmashauri ya CCM (Nec), taarifa ya hali ya siasa ndani ya chama hicho ikieleza mambo matatu kuwa ndiyo yanayokisumbua. Hayo ni pamoja na mbio za urais 2015, mchakato wa kujivua gamba na kura za maoni za ubunge za mwaka jana.
Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari jana katika salamu zake za Sikukuu ya Krismas na Mwaka Mpya, Mchungaji Lusekelo maarufu kama 'Mzee wa Upako' alisema umefika wakati kwa wanasiasa kutambua kuwa 2015 si mwisho wa dunia na kwamba kuna maisha baada ya mwaka huo.
“Ni heri ilivyokuwa miaka ya nyuma maana ili uwe mwanasiasa ulikuwa lazima usome… walikuwa wakisomea pale chuo cha Kigamboni, jambo hili hivi sasa halipo na kila mtu anataka kuwa mwanasiasa,” alisema Mchungaji Lusekelo.
Alisema siasa ni taaluma kama zilivyo nyingine na kitendo cha wanasiasa ambao kitaaluma si wanasiasa kulumbana katika jambo fulani wanaoumia si wao, bali ni Watanzania.
“Si vyema kwa viongozi wa kisiasa kulumbana kwani watakaoumia ni Watanzania na jambo hili lisipoangaliwa, hali inaweza kuwa mbaya zaidi mwaka 2015,” alisema.
Alisema kitendo cha viongozi mbalimbali wa Serikali kustaafu na kupewa kazi nyingine, ndicho chanzo cha kuwa na viongozi waliolewa uongozi.
“Huu ndiyo utoto wa moyo ninaousema, mtu anaacha uwaziri kisha anapelekwa kuwa kiongozi wa shirika au taasisi fulani ya Serikali, kila siku viongozi ni walewale na ndiyo mwanzo wa kuwa na viongozi walevi wa uongozi,” alisema.
Posho za wabunge
Akizungumzia posho za wabunge ambazo zimeongezwa kutoka Sh70,000 hadi 300,000, alisema tatizo si posho, bali ni mfumo mzima wa kulipana posho.
Licha ya kuitaka Serikali kutowatupa watumishi wake katika kuwalipa vizuri, Mchungaji Lusekelo alitoa angalizo kwamba kiwango kikubwa cha posho kitawafanya wasiokuwa wanasiasa nao kutaka kuwa wabunge.
“Tunaweza kuwa na bunge la watu fulani hivi waliofuata posho na si watendaji na wanasiasa makini,” alisema.
Katiba Mpya
Akizungumzia suala la mchakato wa Katiba Mpya ambao juzi Mwenyekiti wa Kigoda cha Mwalimu Nyerere, Profesa Issa Shivji aliuponda kuwa ni mbovu na hautazaa katiba bora, Mchungaji Lusekelo alisema ili kufikia tamati ya uwepo kwa Katiba Mpya ni lazima Watanzania waaminiane.
“Muswada ndiyo huo umepitishwa, nadhani kinachotakiwa hivi sasa ni kuaminiana tu, Katiba Mpya ni jambo zuri na mwenye uwezo atoe maoni yake juu ya Katiba anayoitaka. Katiba iliyopo ni nzuri ila ina upungufu wake hasa katika kipengele cha madaraka makubwa aliyonayo Rais.”


Sitta: Urais unakuja wenyewe
Katika hotuba yake aliyotoa jimboni kwake Urambo Mashariki mwishoni mwa wiki, Sitta alisema urais ni jambo linalokuja lenyewe kwa watu waadilifu hivyo hakuna haja ya kuuota kila siku.
“Urais unakuja wenyewe kwa watu walio waadilifu. Nachukizwa na watu ambao wao kila siku wamekuwa na mawazo ya urais na kuacha mambo ya msingi ya kutumikia wananchi wa Tanzania,” alisema.
Sitta ambaye alikuwa Spika wa Bunge la Tisa, alisema anachukizwa pia na kuhusishwa katika harakati za urais wa 2015 akisema ni mapema mno kufikiria jambo hilo sasa kwani bado kuna muda mwingi. Alisema urais si suala la kukimbilia wala kulitafuta kwa nguvu na mbinu chafu akisema siku zote watu waadilifu wanafahamika na hakuna haja ya kutumia nguvu nyingi kutafuta madaraka hayo ya juu ya nchi.
“Haya mambo ya urais kila siku hayana maana. Kibaya zaidi watu wanahamisha mambo ya msingi na kuyapeleka katika fikra za ovyo. Hebu ufike wakati tuangalie matatizo ya wananchi kwanza tusifikirie vitu ambavyo havimsaidii mwananchi wala taifa,” alisema.

Sunday, December 25

Why does the Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas?

This message will take the form of a simulated discussion between a Jehovah's Witness named Joe and a Christian named Chris.
Chris: Joe can you explain to me why Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas?
Joe: Sure, Chris. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas because we do not participate in pagan celebrations, and we know that Jesus was not born on December 25.
Chris: Why do you call Christmas a pagan celebration? Certainly celebrating God's gift of his son would not qualify as a pagan celebration.
Joe: December 25 is the date of the winter solstice and Christmas originated at a time when the cult of the sun was strong at Rome.
Chris: So what you are saying is that Christians celebrated a pagan celebration and just continued to do so by changing its name. Joe: That's right, Chris.
Chris: Were you aware that this is not what the Watchtower originally taught was the origin of Christmas? Joe: What do you mean?
Chris: In The Time is at Hand, Vol. 2 of the Studies in the Scriptures on page 61 it discusses the date of the birth of Christ. It says "...we could not be certain that the exact day might not be in September about the 27th, but October 1st, B.C. is about correct. Nine months back of that date would bring us to about Christmas time, 3 B.C., as the date at which our Lord laid aside the glory which he had with the Father before the world was made and the taking of or changing to human nature began. It seems probable that this was the origin of the celebration of December 25th as Christmas Day. Some writers on Church history claim, even, that Christmas Day was originally celebrated as the date of the annunciation by Gabriel to the virgin Mary." Joe, the Watchtower at one time agreed with Church history that the origin of Christmas was the celebration of the gift of God's son from his conception. Just because this conception happened around a pagan celebration does not make it pagan. If celebrating the gift of God's son is so wrong, how come God allowed the celebration for so long before the Watchtower ever declared it wrong?
Joe: I know that the Watchtower used to celebrate Christmas but when they learned that it was tied into paganism, they stopped celebrating it.
Chris: In the December 15, 1903 Watchtower, Charles Russell wrote concerning Christmas that even though he did not agree with the date which he said wasn't important, he said "..we may properly enough join with all whose hearts are in the attitude of love and appreciation toward God and toward the Saviour." Both Charles Russell and Joseph Rutherford your first and second presidents celebrated Christmas and even encouraged others to participate in the celebration and to give Watchtower books as gifts. All this was at a time when the Watchtower says that Jesus was inspecting all churches to see which he would pick as the only "faithful and wise servant". How is it that celebrating the gift of God's son was alright back then but now is such a bad thing that a person can lose his everlasting life? How is it that God allowed Christians for almost two thousand years to honor the gift of his Son and then suddenly changed his mind?
Joe: I'm not sure how to answer you. I know that I used to celebrate Christmas as a small child before my family became Witnesses and I never thought it was wrong then. But now I have learned things like the wise men were dupes of Satan, led by a Satanic star. The whole Christmas scene was led by Satan not God.
Chris: I would be interested in talking with you about the star of Bethlehem and the wise men. Could we get together next week to discuss this?
Joe: Sure.
Chris: Joe, can you tell me why the Watchtower believes that the star of Bethlehem was Satan's star and that the wise men were led by Satan?
Joe: I have brought some information from the Watchtower for you to look at Chris. Look at this article in the July 1, 1985 Watchtower. On pages 16 & 17 it says "Who do you think provided the star that moved in the sky to guide the astrologers? Remember, the star did not guide them directly to Jesus in Bethlehem. Rather, they were led to Jerusalem where they came in touch with King Herod, who wanted to kill Jesus. And he would have done so if God had not stepped in and warned the astrologers not to tell Herod. It was God's enemy, Satan the Devil, who wanted Jesus killed, and he used that star to try to accomplish this purpose." You see, Chris the star that led the magi was Satan's star and it was used to try to destroy Jesus.
Chris: That is certainly a very interesting premise Joe, but I have never seen it that way from scripture. I'm wondering if you could answer some questions I have about the story of the star and the wise men found in the Bible.
Joe: I am always willing to answer your Bible questions.
Chris: Look at Matthew 2:1 & 2.
Joe: In the New World Translation is says "After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, look! Astrologers from eastern parts came to Jerusalem, saying: "Where is the one born king of the Jews? For we saw his star (when we were) in the east, and we have come to do him obeisance." Chris: Joe, according to Matthew 2:1 & 2, where did the wise men see the star?
Joe: It says they saw the star when they were in the east.
Chris: Does it say that the star led them to Jerusalem?
Joe: Well...no, it just says that they saw the star in the east. But it had to lead them to Jerusalem or else how did they get there?
Chris: Obviously they knew something about the Jews and their religion because the Bible says that they knew that the star was connected with the long-awaited king of the Jews. If they were aware of the Jew's belief in a coming king, where do you think that they would look to find the king?
Joe: Jerusalem was the logical choice as it was the capital city and had the throne of king Herod.
Chris: That's right,
Joe. Logically Jerusalem would be the place to start their search for the king. But can you find any verse that says that the star led the wise men to Jerusalem?
Joe: Hmmm. Well, no I guess there isn't any verse. We just assume that the star led them to Jerusalem because Satan wanted Jesus killed.
Chris: You know Joe, there is a verse that talks about the star leading the magi. Have a look at Matt. 2:9. Joe: It says, "When they had heard the king, they went their way; and, look! the star they had seen (when they were) in the east went ahead of them, until it came to a stop above where the young child was."
Chris: Joe, did the star lead the magi to Jesus?
Joe: Yes, it did. But it was Satan's star.
Chris: Look at verse 12. Who gave the wise men direction in a dream?
Joe: It says "However, because they were given divine warning in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another way." Here Jehovah warned the wise men to stay away from Herod but he had to do this or else Herod would have killed Jesus.
Chris: If the star of Bethlehem was Satan's star, then Satan goofed! He should have sent the star to direct Herod not the wise men. You see the wise men were obedient to Jehovah, but Herod obviously was not. Joe: The star couldn't have been Jehovah's star. There is no reason to send pagan astrologers to Jesus other then to stir up Herod to try to kill Jesus.
Chris: Joe, if the magi were pawns of Satan and influenced by him, then they would not have obeyed Jehovah's warning in a dream. The fact that they obeyed Jehovah proves that they were sent by him.
Joe: So, they obeyed him that proves nothing.
Chris: Jehovah could easily have stopped the wise men from finding Jesus just as He stopped Herod from finding Jesus. But the wise men provided something for his Son that was needed because of an important prophecy.
Joe: What do you mean?
Chris: Matthew 2:15 quotes a prophecy from Jehovah about His Son being in Egypt. And verse 18 is another prophecy quoted about the death of the young children that would be killed by Herod. It was no surprise to Jehovah that Herod would cause the death of many children in an attempt to kill Jesus. Jehovah already knew this and gave a prophecy to show that He was prepared for this event. How would Jehovah provide protection for Jesus?
Joe: He would send Jesus and his parents into Egypt.
Chris: If Jehovah already knew that his Son would need to go to Egypt just as Jehovah prophecied, what did He prepare to provide financially for his Son in Egypt?
Joe: I've never thought of that question before. I don't know.
Chris: Just think,
Joe. The wise men brought very expensive gifts to the young child Jesus. These gifts were worth enough to finance the stay in Egypt of God's Son. These men brought Jehovah's financial provision for Jesus and not until after the magi left were Jesus' parents instructed to flee to Egypt.
Now Joe, whose star do you think the star of Bethlehem really was?
Was Jesus born on December 25?

Was Jesus born on December 25? There is no evidence for this date. So then, who decided that Jesus' birth would be celebrated on that date? The early Christian church did not celebrate Jesus' birth. It wasn't until A.D. 440 that the church officially proclaimed December 25 as the birth of Christ. This was not based on any religious evidence but on a pagan feast. Saturnalia was a tradition inherited by the Roman pagans from an earlier Babylonian priesthood. December 25 was used as a celebration of the birthday of the sun god. It was observed near the winter solstice.

The apostles in the Bible predicted that some Christians would adopt pagan beliefs to enable them to make their religion more palatable to the pagans around them. Therefore, some scholars think the church chose the date of this pagan celebration to interest them in Christianity. The pagans were already used to celebrating on this date.

The Bible itself tells us that December 25 is an unlikely date for His birth. Palestine is very cold in December. It was much too cold to ask everyone to travel to the city of their fathers to register for taxes. Also the shepherds were in the fields (Luke 2:8-12). Shepherds were not in the fields in the winter time. They are in the fields early in March until early October. This would place Jesus' birth in the spring or early fall. It is also known that Jesus lived for 33.5 years and died at the feast of the Passover, which is at Easter time. He must therefore have been born six months the other side of Easter - making the date around the September/October time frames.

Other evidence that December 25 is the wrong date for the birth of Jesus comes from early writings. Iranaeus, born about a century after Jesus, notes that Jesus was born in the 41st year of the reign of Augustus. Since Augustus began his reign in the autumn of 43 B.C., this appears to substantiate the birth of Jesus as the autumn of 2 B.C. Eusebius (A.D. 264-340), the "Father of Church History," ascribes it to the 42nd year of the reign of Augustus and the 28th from the subjection of Egypt on the death of Anthony and Cleopatra. The 42nd year of Augustus ran from the autumn of 2 B.C. to the autumn of 1 B.C. The subjugation of Egypt into the Roman Empire occurred in the autumn of 30 B.C. The 28th year extended from the autumn of 3 B.C. to the autumn of 2 B.C. The only date that would meet both of these constraints would be the autumn of 2 B.C.

John the Baptist also helps us determine that December 25 is not the birth of Jesus. Elizabeth, John's mother, was a cousin of Mary. John began his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. The minimum age for the ministry was 30. As Augustus died on August 19, A.D. 14, that was the accession year for Tiberius. If John was born on April 19-20, 2 B.C., his 30th birthday would have been April 19-20, A.D. 29, or the 15th year of Tiberius. This seems to confirm the 2 B.C. date, and, since John was 5 months older, this also confirms an autumn birth date for Jesus.

Another interesting fact comes from Elizabeth herself. She hid herself for 5 months and then the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary both Elizabeth's condition and that Mary would also bear a son who would be called Jesus. Mary went "with haste" to visit Elizabeth, who was then in the first week of her 6th month, or the 4th week of Dec., 3 B.C. If Jesus was born 280 days later it would place his birth on Sept. 29, 2 B.C. Some scholars interpret the 6 months to be in line with the Hebrew calendar or the August-September time frame. Since Mary's pregnancy commenced a little before the sixth month around July, Jesus would be born somewhere around March-June. But does it matter if Jesus was born on the spring, the fall, or on December 25? Does it matter, theologically, when Jesus was born? What do you think, does it matter what day we celebrate His birth?

Thursday, December 22

Rais Kikwete aomboleza vifo vya mafuriko

RAIS Jakaya Kikwete, amemtumia salamu za rambirambi Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam, Said Meck Sadiq, kuomboleza vifo vya watu 13 ambao wamepoteza maisha katika mafuriko makubwa yaliyotokana na mvua ambazo zinaendelea kunyesha jijini Dar es Salaam.

Aidha, Rais Kikwete amempa pole mkuu huyo wa mkoa kutokana na uharibifu mkubwa wa nyumba, makazi na mali nyingine za wananchi uliosababishwa na mvua hizo ambazo pia zimesababisha uharibifu wa miundombinu.

Rais Kikwete pia ameuelekeza uongozi wa Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam kwa kusaidiana na taasisi na vyombo vyenye uzoefu wa maafa kushirikiana katika kuendelea kuokoa maisha ya watu, kusaidia waliozingirwa na mafuriko na kuwahifadhi na kuwasaidia wale wote waliopoteza nyumba na makazi kutokana na mafuriko hayo.

Katika salamu zake, Rais Kikwete amemwambia mkuu wa mko kuwa: “Nimepokea kwa masikitiko habari za vifo vya wenzetu 13 vilivyotokana na mafuriko yaliyosababishwa na mvua kubwa ambayo sote tumeishuhudia katika Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam tokea jana (juzi).

“Nakutumia wewe rambirambi zangu kutokana na vifo hivyo, na kupitia kwako kwa familia, ndugu na jamaa waliopoteza wapendwa wao katika balaa hili la mafuriko. Wajulishe kuwa msiba wao ni msiba wangu, naelewa machungu yao na niko nao katika hali ya sasa ya maombolezo. Mungu aziweke pema peponi roho za marehemu wote,” alisema.

Taarifa iliyotolewa na Kurugenzi ya Mawasiliano Ikulu jana, imesema kuwa Rais Kikwete alisema kuwa kupitia kwa mkuu wa mkoa anatoa pole zake nyingi kwa wote walioumia ama kupoteza mali zao katika mafuriko hayo.

“Chini ya usimamizi wako, ningependa kuona uongozi wa Mkoa kwa kushirikiana na taasisi na vyombo vyenye ujuzi na uzoefu wa kupambana na majanga na dharura za namna hii, kuhakikisha kuwa tunaendelea kuokoa watu ambao bado wamezingirwa na mafuriko, tunawapa matibabu wale walioumia katika mafuriko hayo, na tunawahifadhi na kuwapa huduma za kibinadamu wote waliopoteza nyumba na makazi yao katika mafurikio hayo,” alisema Rais Kikwete.

Maafa Dar 10

Maafa Dar 9

Maafa Dar 8

Maafa Dar 7

Maafa Dar 6

Dar si salama - Kwa mujibu wa gazeti la Mwananchi

MAFURIKO YAONGEZA VIFO, MAJERUHI, MADARAJA,NYUMBA ZABOMOKA, BARABARA KUU ZAFUNGWA
Waandishi Wetu WATU 11 wakiwamo watatu wa familia moja, wameripotiwa kufariki dunia na wengine kadhaa kujeruhiwa kufuatia mvua zilizoendelea kunyesha jana katika Jiji la Dar es Salaam na viunga vyake na kuvuruga mfumo wa usafiri na shughuli za kiuchumi.Miondombinu mbalimbali ya Jiji hilo ikiwamo madaraja na nyumba vilivunjwa na kusababisha adha kubwa kwa wakazi ambao wengi wao, walishindwa hata kwenda kazini.
Baadhi ya barabara zikiwamo Morogoro eneo la Jangwani na Ali Hassan Mwinyi eneo la daraja la Salenda zilifungwa kwa muda kutokana na kujaa maji kiasi cha kuhatarisha maisha ya watumiaji wake.
Mvua hiyo ya siku mbili mfululizo kunyesha jijini Dar es Salaam, jana ilifanya maeneo mengi zikiwamo barabara muhimu kama Nyerere kuanzia Uwanja wa Ndege, Kawawa eneo la Kigogo Darajani na Mandela eneo la Tabata Matumbi, kushindwa kupitika kwa saa kadhaa kutokana na kujaa maji.
Katika barabara ya Mandela hali ilikuwa tete baada ya maelfu ya abiria waliokuwa wanasafiri kutoka Buguruni kwenda Ubungo, kukwama katika daraja la Matumbi.
Kwa zaidi ya saa nne tangu saa 1:00 asubuhi abiria walioonekana wakishuka kutoka kwenye magari na kutembea kwa miguu mithili ya maandamano, huku makumi ya magari yakiwa yamezimika barabarani.
Wakati hayo yakitokea, watumiaji wa barabara ya Mandela walikwama kutokana na msururu mrefu wa magari kufuatia baadhi yake kuzima na kufunga barabarani.
Katika barabara hiyo eneo la TIOT, ulionekana moshi mkubwa angani uliotokana na moshi wa gesi baada ya bomba linalopitisha gesi hiyo kupasuka. Moshi huo uliwafanya watu waliokuwa kwenye magari kupatwa na vikohozi.
Mamlaka ya Hali ya Hewa nchini (TMA) imetaja mvua zilizonyesha jana na juzi kuwa hazijawahi kutokea katika miaka ya karibuni, na kwamba mara ya mwisho mvua kubwa kama hiyo ilirekodiwa mwaka 1954.
Madaraja yasombwa Baadhi ya madaraja yalisombwa au kuvunjwa na maji hivyo kusababisha shida ya usafiri katika jiji hilo.
Daraja la Mbezi katika barabara ya Morogoro lililoko jirani na kibanda cha mkaa eneo la Tanesco lilivunika na kusababisha kukatika mawasiliano ya safari za kutoka na kwenda katikati ya jiji.
Mawasiliano katika daraja hilo yalikatika saa 11:00 alfajiri, na kusababisha misururu ya magari yaliyokuwa yakisubiri maji yapungue ili yapite.
"Hii leo sio kawaida, heri ya jana, sisi tumekwama tangu saa 10:30 alfajiri na mpaka sasa 1:45 asubuhi hatujui tutaondoka saa ngapi," alisema mmoja wa abiria waliokwama eneo hilo, ambaye alipiga simu ofisi za gazeti hili bila kutaja jina lake.
Vitus Andrew aliyejitambulisha kuwa ni dereva wa gari aina ya Mitsubishi fuso, alisema alifika eneo hilo saa 11.20 alfajiri na kukuta msururu wa magari ukiwa hautembei hivyo kumalazimu kuzima gari na kulala.
“Ndugu yangu, nimefika hapa mapema nikiwa naelekea Tabora, lakini naona safari yangu imeishia hapa kwa leo na kibaya zaidi hakuna kiongozi ama askari yeyote aliyefika kusimamia usalama wa abiria na magari kwani hali ya usalama si nzuri,” alisema Andrew.
Taarifa zilizopatikana baadaye, zilisema magari yalianza kupita kwenye daraja hilo saa 2:20 asubuhi. Daraja la Mbezi Bondeni linalounganisha Mbezi Beach na Mwenge, wilayani Kinondoni limekatika upande mmoja kutokana na mafuriko hivyo kufanya Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ) kikosi cha Lugalo kuweka kambi maalumu kwa ajili ya kulinda usalama. Hatua hiyo imesababisha wananchi wanaotoka Mbezi kuelekea Mwenge, kushindwa kutumia magari na kulazimika kuvuka kwa miguu kutokana na magari yote kuzuiwa kupita eneo hilo.
Daraja lililopo Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT) lilijaa maji hivyo kulazimisha uongozi wa jeshi kuzuia magari yasipite kwa muda.
Maeneo mengine ya Jiji Usalama wa maisha na mali kwa wananchi katika Bonde la Mto Msimbazi umekuwa hatarini kutokana na mvua hizo.
Mamia ya watu waliyakimbia makazi yao huku wengine wakiwa juu ya mapaa ya nyumba wakisubiri kuokolewa kutokana na nyumba zao kuzingirwa na maji. Wengine walionekana juu ya minazi wakisubiri msaada kutoka kwa wasamaria wema huku helikopta ya polisi ikipita bila kuweza kutoa msaada wowote. Mvua hizo zilisababisha balaa kwa wakazi wa eneo la Ubungo External, ambako maji ya Mto Ubungo yalisambaa kwenye makazi ya watu na kusomba mali zao.
Mwanamke ambaye ni mkazi wa eneo hilo ambaye jina lake halikufahamika mara moja, alisikika akisema tangu kuishi kwake Dar es Salaam miaka 34 iliyopita, hakuwahi kuona mafuriko ya aina hiyo.
Eneo la Mikocheni nako hali haikuwa shwari baada ya nyumba nyingi za wakazi wa eneo hilo kuzolewa na maji yaliyokuwa yanatokea katika bonde la mpunga, lenye mkondo wa maji ya bahari.
Hata hivyo, baadhi ya wakazi walitaja sababu za eneo hilo kujaa maji kuwa ni ujenzi holela wa makazi ya watu hasa maeneo ya My Fair Plaza.
Amos John mkazi wa eneo hilo alisema umefika wakati Serikali ikachukua hatua za makusudi kuhakikisha mkondo huo wa maji unaachwa huru ili kunusuru maisha ya wakazi wa eneo hilo.
Katika eneo la Tandale kwa Tumbo, Mwananchi lilishuhudia watu wakiwa katika hali mbaya huku wakiomba msaada baada ya kuzidiwa na maji.
Hali hiyo ilisababisha baadhi ya nyumba kusombwa na maji, huku baadhi ya wamiliki wake wakionekana katika makundi wakiomba msaada.
Wakizungumza katika eneo hilo jana, walisema hali imezidi kuwa mbaya tofauti na juzi na kwamba sasa ndio wamepoteza mwelekeo wa maisha kabisa kwa kupoteza mali zao na vitu muhimu ambavyo wanavitegemea kwa ajili ya kuendesha maisha yao.
“Sio jambo jepesi kurudi katika hali ambayo nilikuwa nayo kwa sababu nimepoteza mali zangu zote hasa ukizingatia nilikuwa nafanya biashara. Vitu vilivyokuwa dukani kwangu vimechukuliwa na maji na sasa sijui wapi nitakimbilia kupata msaada,” alisema Salum.
Mjumbe wa Serikali ya Mtaa Kwa Tumbo, Zinduna Kimbonaga, alisema: “Hali siyo nzuri, kipindi hiki kunahitajika hatua za dharura ili kuwakomboa wakazi wa eneo hili”.
“Watu hawana makazi wala vyakula. Hali ni mbaya, Serikali inatakiwa kufanya jitihada za kutoa misaada ya chakula na malazi ili kuepusha magonjwa ya milipuko,” alisema Kimbonaga ambaye pia alibainisha kuwa juzi, Mbunge wa Kinondoni Idd Azan, aliwapa misaada ambayo inahitajika kuongezwa. Mbagala, Tabata Kimanga Wakazi wa kata ya Kijichi, jana walilazimika kutembea kwa miguu hadi maeneo ya Mtongani na Misheni kutokana na kukatika ghafla kwa mawasaliano ya usafiri katika daraja la Kijichi.
Daraja hilo lilifurika maji na hivyo kufanya magari madogo zikiwamo Hiace kushindwa kupita eneo hilo na yale yaliyofanikiwa kupita yaliongeza nauli hadi Sh500 badala ya kati ya Sh300 na Sh400.
Daraja lililopo kati ya eneo la madukani na chama, lilifurika maji hivyo kufanya watu wanaoishi Tabata Kimanga kushindwa kwenda makazini.
Daraja hilo lilianza kufurika maji saa 12:00 asubuhi na kupungua saa 3:00 asubuhi ambapo magari yenye uwezo mkubwa kama Toyota Land Cruiser na Defender yalianza kupita.
Magari mengi ya abiria yalishindwa kuendelea na safari kutokana foleni pamoja na barabara nyingi kujaa maji.
Pia nyumba zilizopo katika bonde hilo zilifurika maji huku nyingine zikibomoka kabisa hali iliyofanya watu walioshindwa kuwahi kuyakimbia maji hayo, kupanda juu ya dari na kubaki kuchungilia nje jinsi mali zao zinavyosombwa na maji.
Hali hiyo pia ilijitokeza eneo la Tabata Msimbazi, ambako taharuki ilijitokeza baada ya maji ya mto Msimbazi kujaa kwenye nyumba za watu.
Maji hayo yaliyotokana na mvua kubwa iliyonyesha kuanzia saa 10 alfajiri ya kuamkia jana na yalisababisha wakazi wa eneo la Msimbazi Nyaluhela na Kwa Swai, hususan wanawake na watoto kutimua mbio kwenda maeneo ya Mwinuko kwa ajili ya hifadhi. Cosmas Ndijo kutoka eneo Tabata Bima kwenye mwinuko alisema aliona mto huo ukisomba mizoga ya ng’ombe, mbuzi, kondoo, meza, viti na magodoro. Naye Baraka Bansy alisema Mto Msimbazi ulijaa maji mengi na kusomba miti mingi kutoka mbali na kwamba, nyumba nyingi eneo la Msimbazi zilikuwa zimezingirwa na maji.
“Maji yamefika msikiti wa Msimbazi, wanawake na watoto wanazidi kutimua mbio kuokoa maisha yao,” alisema Baraka. Kadhalika mvua hiyo ya jana ilisababisha barabara ya Umoja kuanzia Bima kwenda kwa Msimbazi kujaa maji na kusababisha watu kuvua viatu kupita eneo hilo.
Usafiri wa daladala na teksi kutoka Tabata kwenda Buguruni ama Ubungo, ulisimama asubuhi ya jana kutokana na maji ya mto Msimbazi kupita juu ya daraja. Matumbi huku eneo la Tabata Relini nalo likijaa maji ambayo yalisababisha kupasuka kwa bomba la gesi. Mabomba ya gesi yalipasuka kwenye eneo la viwanda vilivyopo Kituo cha TOT barabara ya Mandela na kusababisha moshi uliojaa harufu mbaya ambayo ilisababisha watu wengi kufadhaika. Vifo Kinondoni Kamanda wa Polisi mkoa wa Kinondoni, Charles Kenyela alisema maji yalikuwa yamejaa pia kwenye ofisi za Shirika la Mpango wa Maendeleo la Umoja wa Taifa (UNDP). Kamanda Kenyela alifafanua kwamba juhudi za uokoaji zilikuwa zikiendelea kwa watu waliokuwa ndani ya ofisi hizo.
Habari kutoka katika Hospitali ya Mwananyamala zinasema, kulipokelewa maiti saba na majeruhi watano katika hosipitali hiyo. Muuguzi wa zamu wa hospitali hiyo Marry Shayo aliliambia gazeti hili kuwa kati ya maiti hao watatu ni wa familia moja. aliwataja kuwa ni Tatu, Sharifa na Amran wote wa ukoo wa Abeid. Maiti wengine ni wanne hawajatambuliwa. Shayo alitaja majeruhi kuwa ni Husna Rashid mkazi wa Kigogo, Amina Rashid, Yonas Maganga, Sharifa Said na Ally Mdowa. Kwa upande wake, diwani wa Kata ya Tabata, Mtumwa Mohamed alisema ameshuhudia miili ya watu sita ikielea katika maji yaliyokuwa yanapita kwa kasi katika Mto Msimbazi eneo la Matumbi, Tabata jijini Dar es Salaam, jana. "Wale ni marehemu, hiyo haina ubishi kwani hakuna hata mmoja ambaye alikuwa anajaribu kujitetea" alisema na kuongeza kuwa watu hao ni tofauti na wengine zaidi ya sita waliokuwa wamepanda juu ya mti aina ya mwarobaini ambao nao ulisombwa na maji na kudondoka nao," alisema na kuongeza:, "Hali si nzuri nafikiri watu wengi zaidi watakuwa wamepoteza maisha.
Pia kuna taarifa za mtu mwingine kuchukuliwa na maji baada ya kurudi nyumbani kwake kwenda kuwaokoa watoto wake." Alisema mwanaume ambaye ni maarufu kwa jina la Bonge wa eneo la Matumbi, alitoka nje kwa madai kwamba anawafuata watoto wake na hakuweza hata kupiga hatua tatu akasombwa na maji. "Nilifika pale muda mfupi baada ya tukio na kuelezwa kuwa kuna mtu kasombwa, alikuwa anairudia familia yake," alisema na kuongeza kuwa hali ni mbaya katika kata yake na watu wengi zaidi huenda wamepotza maisha. Baadhi ya watu wamedai kuwa kundi la watu wanane ambao walishika mikono kuvuka katika eneo la Matumbi ambalo lilijaa maji, lilisombwa na maji wakati wakijaribu kuvuka hali ambayo iliwafanya vijana wa eneo hilo kuzuia mtu yeyote asijaribu kuvuka.
Katika eneo la Kigogo, watoto watano wa familia moja waliripotiwa kupotea na tayari baba yao Issa Rajabu Mkazi wa Kigogo, aliliambia gazeti hili kuwa watoto hao na mama yao, walipotea muda mfupi baada ya maji kujaa kwenye nyumba yao. “Mpaka sasa hivi nimewapata watoto wawili, bado watatu sijui walipo,” alisema Rajabu. Rugimbana Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Kinondoni na Kaimu Mkuu wa Wilaya za Ilala na Temeke, Jordan Rugimbana alisema watu wanne walifariki dunia katika tukio hilo katika wilaya ya Kinondoni. Alisema kutokana na janga hilo Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam, Said Meck Sadick ameagiza kuundwa vikosi kazi maalumu kwa ajili ya kuhakikisha wanatoa msaada kwa wananchi walioathirika hasa katika Bonde la Msimbazi ambalo lilionekana kuathirika sana. Alisema vikosi kazi hivyo vitafanya kazi kutambua maeneo yaliyoathirika kwa kiasi kikubwa kwa kushirikiana na Jeshi la Polisi na Msalaba Mwekundu, kutenga maeneo maalumu ya kupokelea wananchi. Alitaja maeneo hayo kuwa ni Shule ya Sekondari Kibasila katika Wilaya ya Temeke, Shule ya Msingi Kilimani Rutihinda (Kinondoni) na Msimbazi katika Manispaa ya Ilala. Hosipitalini Muhimbili Ofisa Uhusiano Msaidizi wa Hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili, Jeza Waziri alisema wamepokea majeruhi wawili na maiti moja. Aliwataja majeruhi hao kuwa ni Deo Joseph (24) kutoka Tandale na Ibrahim Batazani (30) anayetokea Ilala na kwamba walifikishwa hospitalini hapo saa 9.30 mchana. “Tumepokea majeruhi wawili na wametambulika na maiti moja ya mwanamke ambayo hadi hivi sasa haijatambulika, hawa majeruhi wanafanyiwa uchunguzi haijajulikana kama watalazwa au wataruhusiwa,”alisema Waziri
Mbowe asitisha ziara Kwa upande wake, Mwenyekiti wa Chadema, Freeman Mbowe amelazimika kukatisha ziara jimboni kwake Hai kutokana na maafa yaliyowapata wananchi wa Dares Salaam. Mbowe alifafanua kwamba amelazimika kusitisha shughuli hizo jimboni na nyingine kitaifa katika kipindi hiki kigumu, ambacho taifa kimeingia. Mwenyekiti huyo ambaye pia ni kiongozi wa Upinzani Bungeni, aliwapa pole wote walioguswa na maafa hayo kwa namna moja au nyingine, ikiwa ni pamoja na kupoteza mali na ndugu.
Zitto Kabwe atoa change moto Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe amewapa pole watu wote wa Dar es Salaam kutokana na madhara ya mvua. “Ninawapa pole watu wote wa Dar es Salaam, pia tujitokeze kwa wingi kusaidia Watanzania wenzetu waweze kurejea katika maisha ya kawaida. Pia kwa upande wa Serikali hii ni changamoto ya kuboresha mipango miji ya Jiji la Dar es Salaam,” alisema Zitto alisema kwamba viongozi waache kukaa ofisini katika kipindi hiki na badala yake watembee makazi ya watu ambao wamepata maafa haya. “Nimepita maeneo mbalimbali, hali ya maisha ya hawa Watanzania wenzetu inatisha. Tushirikiane na tuwe wamoja kipindi hiki kigumu,” alisema Habari hii imeandaliwa na Fredy Azzah, Hadija Zuberi, Ibrahim Yamola, Boniface Meena, Aidan Mhando, Lauden Mwambona, Joseph Zablon, Keneth Goliama na Pamela Chilongola

Wednesday, December 21

Maafa Dar 5

Maafa Dar 4

Nyumba zachomwa moto kwa imani za kishirikina. Na Fredy Bakalemwa, Mbeya.

Wakazi wa mtaa wa Igoma A kata ya Isanga jijini Mbeya wamezizoma moto nyumba mbili, moja ikiwa ya mwenyekiti wa mtaa huo Bwana Juma Kahawa.

Nyumba nyingine iliyoteketezwa kwa moto na watu walioamua kujichukuliwa sheria mkononi ni ya Bwana Herman Tonji naye ni mkazi wa mtaa huo.

Imedaiwa na baadhi ya wakazi wa mtaa huo kuwa hatua hiyo imefikiwa kutokana na kuwatuhumu watu hao kuwa ni washirikiana kwa madai kuwa baadhi ya watoto katika mtaa huo wamepotea na kukutwa wakiwa wamekufa katika mazingira tatanishi.

Tukio la Jumatano jioni katika mtaa wa Igoma kata ya Isanga lilinaswa na kamera ya Star Tv ambapo umati wa watu walitoka mkutanoni baada ya kushindwa kupata mwafaka hasira zikawaelekeza kujichukulia sheria mkononi.

Wakati tukio likiendelea kikosi cha zima moto kilifika eneo la tukio ili kuokoamalizilizokuwa zimesalia lakini hata hivyo sehemu kubwa yamalizilikuwa zimeteketea.

Kwa kuwa watekelezaji wa hatua hiyo walitambua kuwa wanavunja sharia, baada ya kuona askari polisi wakiwa na silaha hakuna aliyesalia bali walihamia katika nyumba nyingine ya Bwana Herman Tonji.

Polisi walipofika wakachukua hatua za kuokoa baadhi yamalikabla ya kuteketea, lakini siyo kila kitu kiliguswa.

Kamanda wa polisi mkoani Mbeya ACP Advocate Nyombi alitoa tamko, kuthibitisha tukiohilokwa kuwataka wananchi kutojichukulia sheria mkononi.

Mwisho.

Mafuriko yaleta maafa Dar • Watu kumi wahofiwa kufa, 2,000 wakosa makazi

MVUA kubwa iliyoambatana na upepo mkali na radi iliyonyesha usiku wa kuamkia jana jijini Dar es Salaam, imesababisha vifo vya watu zaidi ya kumi pamoja na kusababisha uharibifu wa miundombinu, huku zaidi ya watu 2,000 wakikosa makazi. Miongoni mwa maeneo yaliyokumbwa na maafa hayo kwa kiasi kikubwa ni Kigogo Mburahati, Ubungo Msewe, Bonde la Mkwajuni, Bonde la Msimbazi na mengine ambako nyumba za watu zilizama na kusababisha baadhi ya wananchi kutojulikana waliko. Akizungumza na Tanzania Daima Jumatano, mmoja wa wahanga hao kutoka eneo la Kigogo Mburahati, Grace Anthony alisema watoto wadogo wawili wanasaidikiwa kufa katika eneo hilo baada ya kusombwa na maji wakati wakiwa katika harakati za kujiokoa. Mzee mwingine anayekadiriwa kuwa na umri wa miaka 60 anadaiwa kufa maji baada ya mwili wake kukutwa katika Mto Msewe eneo la Ubungo Msewe, wakati mtoto mwingine wa miaka minane anadaiwa kufariki dunia katika eneo la Kiwalani, baada ya kushika waya wa umeme ulioanguka kutokana na mvua hizo. Aliyataja maeneo yaliyokumbwa na mafuriko hayo ni kutoka eneo la Festini hadi kituo cha Saluni, yote yakiwa Kigogo Mburahati ambako baadhi ya nyumba zilizamishwa chini huku watu wakihangaika kuokoa maisha yao. “Maji yametapakaa eneo lote kama unavyoona na baadhi ya nyumba zimeezuliwa, mali zetu zimesombwa pamoja na gari za watu, hapa hatuna jinsi, kilichopo kwa sasa ni kuiomba serikali itusaidie,” alisema Anthony. Alisema chanzo cha mafuriko hayo ni mkondo wa maji ya mvua yanayotoka maeneo ya Mabibo na Kigogo kushindwa kupita katika daraja la Kigogo, hali inayosababisha maji hayo kupwa na kusambaa ndani ya makazi ya watu. Aliyafananisha mafuriko hayo na gharika kwani awali liliwahi kutokea mwaka 1997 na kusababisha watu kadhaa kupoteza maisha yao. “Mafuriko ya leo ni ya pili kutokea, tukio kama hili tulikumbana nalo mwaka 1997 na chanzo kikubwa ni ufinyu wa daraja pamoja na msongamano wa kaya za watu hasa kwa wale wanaoishi mabondeni. “Awali mwaka huu mwezi Machi mafuriko yalitokea lakini yalisababisha kaya zilizokumbwa na mafuruko hayo kukosa mahali pa kuishi kutokana na maji kujaa ndani, huku baadhi ya kaya zikitakiwa kubomolewa ili kupisha upanuzi wa barabara sanjari na daraja,” alifafanua Anthony. Vyanzo vya uhakikika vililiambia Tanzania Daima Jumatano kwamba maeneo ya Bonde la Mkwajuni pia na Kigogo kuna nyumba zimezama, hivyo kusababisha baadhi ya watu kutoonekana. “Nyumba nyingi zimezama; watu wanahaha kwa kushindwa kujua la kufanya badala yake wengi wao wamelazimika kukaa juu ya mabati ya nyumba zao wakiwa na magodoro… suala hili limetokea katika eneo la Bonde la Mkwajuni na Kigogo,” kilisema chanzo hicho cha habari. Habari nyingine zinaeleza kwamba katika eneo la Magomeni Mwembechai nyumba zilijaa maji hadi eneo la dirishani, hivyo kuwalazimu wanaoishi kuzihama kwa muda. Kwa mujibu wa habari, hadi saa 7:19 mchana jana wananchi hao bado walikuwa hawajapatiwa msaada wowote zaidi ya kuhaha. Taarifa kutoka kwa mashuhuda zinapasha kwamba maafa mengine yametokea katika eneo la Kigogo kutokana na nyumba nyingi kujaa maji hivyo kuwakosesha wananchi wake mahala pa kuishi. Katika maeneo ya Mbagala, Wilaya ya Temeke iliripotiwa kwamba mvua hizo zilizoambatana na radi zimesababisha kupigwa shoti ya umeme hivyo kubomoka. Mvua hizo zilisababisha pia tafrani baada barabara nyingi kujaa maji na kusababisha misafara ya magari kukwama kwenye foleni kwa muda mrefu. Baadhi ya abiria waliokuwa wakisafiri kwa daladala kwa nyakati tofauti walisema kwamba mvua hizo zimewafanya washindwe kufika katika sehemu zao za kazi kwa wakati. Walisema kulikuwa na madimbwi ya maji katika barabara mbalimbali likiwamo eneo sugu la Akiba, hali iliyowafanya madereva kushindwa kupitisha magari yao katika hali ya kawaida. Mmoja wa abiria hao, Shaban Issa alisema ukiachilia mbali madimbwi ya maji, kulikuwa na ukiukwaji wa sheria za barabarani uliofanywa na madereva walipofika kwenye makutano ya barabara kutokana na kutokuwepo askari wa kuongoza magari. Alisema kutokana na kutokuwepo askari wa kuongoza magari katika makutano hayo ya barabara kutokana na mvua hiyo, baadhi ya madereva walikuwa wakipitisha magari yao bila kutii taa za barabarani, hali iliyosababisha msongamano na kuzusha foleni zisizo za lazima. Naye Maggy Mdoe, alisema maeneo mengine yalioathirika na msongamano huo ni pamoja na Ubungo mataa, Usalama, Tazara, Morocco na Fire. “Tumechukua muda mrefu kwa sababu ya uzembe wa madereva kushindana kupita kwenye mataa kutokana na kujifanya wana haraka wakati hata hawajaruhusiwa na taa za upande wao,” alilalamika Mdoe. Alitoa wito kwa madereva kuheshimu sheria za usalama barabarani, na si lazima kila mara wasimamiwe na mtu kwani huo si utaratibu mzuri. Mafuriko hayo pia yamewakosesha makazi baadhi ya wananchi wa eneo la Tabata Relini kutokana na nyumba pamoja na vyombo vyao kusombwa na maji. Mmoja wa wakazi wa eneo hilo, Alli Khatib aliliambia Tanzania Daima Jumatano kwamba mafuriko yanasababishwa na serikali kwa kutojenga miundombinu imara kwa ajili ya kuzuia majanaga ya mafuriko. Aliitaka serikali kuwatengenezea mkondo wa kupitisha maji ili kuweza kuzuia mafuriko hayo ambayo yanawafanya kukosa makazi ya kuishi. Alisema kuwa mvua iliyonyesha kwa siku moja imesababisha watu kukosa makazi, na kwamba kama ikinyesha kwa siku mbili serikali itegemee maafa makubwa kwa wananchi wanaoishi katika mikondo ya mifereji midogo. “Mvua hii imekosesha wananchi sehemu ya kukaa kutokana na nyumba kujaa maji ya mafuriko pia daraja la Ubungo Msewe kuzolewa na maji,” alisema Khatib. Mvua hizo zimesababisha pia mawasiliano kuharibika katika eneo la Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam pamoja na watu waishio Kimara na Mbezi kushindwa kupita katika barabara yenye daraja hilo. Katika hatua nyingine, Mbunge wa Jimbo la Kinondoni, Idd Azan, amesema atachukua hatua za haraka kuimarisha miundombinu ya maeneo mbalimbali ili kukabiliana na hali ya mafuriko makubwa kama ilivyopata kutokea mwaka 1998 na jana kwenye maeneo ya Tandale kwa Mtogole, bonde la Kigogo na Magomeni. Azan ambaye alikuwa akitembelea maeneo yaliyoathirika zaidi na mvua hizo, alisema wakazi wa Tandale na maeneo yake, wanakabiliwa na changamoto ya miundombinu kwani ndio chanzo cha mafuriko. “Suala hili la mafuriko kwa wakazi wa Jimbo la Kinondoni, lipatiwe ufumbuzi ikiwemo kujenga mitaro mikubwa maeneo korofi ya Tandale ili kuzuia ama kukabiliana na hali hiyo,” alisema Azan. Tanzania Daima lilikuwa kwenye eneo la tukio tangu alfajiri, ili shuhudia foleni kubwa kwa magari yaliyokuwa yakipita Barabara ya Shekilango, yakisubiri kupungua kwa maji. Katika eneo hilo gari aina ya Escudo lilisombwa na maji na kutumbukia mtoni huku baadhi ya fremu za muda za eneo la mto huo zikiwa zimejaa maji na zingine kuharibika kabisa. Kwa upande wa abiria waliokuwa wakitumia barabara ya Tandale, walikwama kupita baada ya maji kutanda barabarani. Aidha, katika hali ya kusikitisha, mtoto mchanga wa siku moja aliokotwa akielea kwenye maji na kuopolewa na askari wa Kikosi cha Zimamoto akiwa amekufa. Habari hii imeandaliwa na Hellen Ngoromera, Efracia Massawe, Shehe Semtawa, Chalila Kibuda na Andrew Chale.

Maafa Dar

Maafa Dar 2