‘No cause for alarm on MV Magogoni’
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Minister for Works, Innocent Bashungwa, has assured citizens who use the MV Magogoni of its safety, insisting that the government is working to make it more reliable.
Minister Bashungwa made the statement yesterday during an interview with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) in response to claims and complaints about the MV Magogoni’s malfunctions.
He reassured residents of Dar es Salaam who use the ferry services to criss-cross Kigamboni-Magogoni that there was no cause for alarm, as the government remained committed to providing better transportation services to its people.
Amid concerns about the services provided by the Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical, and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA), Minister Bashungwa said the panic has been caused by individuals with self-interests.
“I want to reassure the residents of Dar es Salaam and Kigamboni that the panic that has been created is unfounded. However, we are aware that there are self-interests behind the creation of this panic,” Bashungwa was quoted as saying.
He said that the ministry recognises the public’s need for quality ferry services, announcing that effective August of this year, they will begin implementing a plan that will allow residents to choose the service they want to use.
Mr. Bashungwa said that he has already facilitated a meeting between TEMESA and Azam Marine to discuss the best ways to collaborate and improve ferry services in the Magogoni-Kigamboni area.
“The government is well-prepared to improve ferry services, and we will provide choices for passengers. If you want to use TEMESA’s ferry, that’s fine, or if you prefer Azam’s ferry for a quicker crossing since they use smaller ferries and not like the larger ferries that wait to load vehicles and passengers before departure,” he stated.
He explained that many ferries, including MV Kigamboni, are currently undergoing maintenance and that the contractor, Songoro Marine, is continuing with the construction of new ferries at its shipyard in the Mwanza Region, which will be deployed to various areas to provide services to the public.
He added that the problem for Kigamboni residents is not the Magogoni ferry but rather the need for a ferry service that is consistently high in quality and reliable.
He insisted that the government is working hard to make it possible. The Chief Executive Officer of TEMESA, Lazaro Kalahala, was recently quoted as saying that MV Kigamboni is undergoing maintenance.
He said when the maintenance was completed, the vessel would resume its services.
“The government is doing everything possible to ensure repairs are done so the ferry services return to normal. Repairs are done interchangeably, and our plan is for MV Magogoni to go for maintenance after MV Kigamboni returns,” Kalahala said.
TEMESA’s Construction and Ferry Maintenance Manager, Engineer Lukombe King’ombe, said that due to the high demand for ferry services, major maintenance is carried out without disrupting the services.
“There is a large number of people whose daily lives depend on crossing Magogoni-Kigamboni areas to earn a living. This is why we cannot send all the ferries for major maintenance at once,” he said.
