Samia orders action as road accidents kills 27
DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has ordered the Police Force to take action against alarming road carnage as thirteen people died in two accidents in Mwanza and Kilimanjaro regions yesterday leaving a score of others injured.
In the first incident, eight people died and 39 others were injured in Ukiliguru area in Mwanza after a bus they were travelling on from Morogoro to Mwanza christened Nyehunge collided with another bus going to Arusha from Mwanza christened Asante Rabi.
Mwanza Regional Police Commander DCP Wilbroad Mutafungwa said investigations indicate the accident was caused by the Asante Rabi bus attempting to overtake another vehicle, which led to its collision with the Nyehunge bus.
In another accident in Same District in Kilimanjaro Region yesterday, five choir members of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT), Wazo Parish died and 20 others were injured after a minibus they were travelling on crashed after veering off the road.
Three days earlier, 14 people died last Friday and six others were injured at Kikavu Bridge in Hai District, along the Arusha-Moshi highway, after a speeding truck hit a mini bus (Coaster).
President Samia directed the Police, specifically the traffic department, to conduct regular and thorough vehicle inspections and to take strict action against reckless drivers and anyone violating traffic rules and regulations.
President Samia also urged all road users to exercise increased caution as the year comes to a close.
“As we approach the end of the year, I encourage all road users to be more vigilant. I am directing the police nationwide to enforce the law and inspect vehicles,” President Samia posted yesterday on X (formerly Twitter).
ALSO READ: Accident claims 14 lives, injures six
The Head of State also extended her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent car accidents in Mwanza and Kilimanjaro.
“I send my condolences to all those who lost their loved ones in the road accident which occurred in Mwanza and Kilimanjaro. I pray for the deceased to rest in peace and for all the injured to recover quickly.”
In the Same incident the District Commissioner, Kasilda Mgeni said preliminary investigations showed that the car swerved and hit the culvert of the road and overturned.
She said the five bodies were preserved at Same District Hospital and the injured were rushed to the Moshi based KCMC Zonal Referral Hospital (KCMC ZRH) and one at the Mawenzi Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH).
Rev Elisa Mruttu of the Pare Diocese of the ELCT in Kilimanjaro region said he rushed to the scene of accident along with his colleagues upon learning of the incident only to find five people confirmed dead.
The ELCT Wazo Parish Pastor, Upendo Mushi said members of the choir were transporting a body of their fellow member who died last week in the city.
She said that the parish is in shock over the tragic news but is placing their faith in God’s hands.
On Friday night, 14 people died and six others were injured in a fatal accident that occurred in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region.
The Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC) Mr Nurdin Babu said the accident occurred at Kikavu Bridge in Hai District, along the Arusha-Moshi highway, after a speeding truck hit a mini bus (Coaster).
“Preliminary reports indicate that the truck, which was travelling along the highway from Moshi to Arusha, struck the passenger vehicle from behind, causing it to lose control and rammed into the sides of the bridge before plunging into the Kikavu River,” he said.
“The six injured were rushed to the KCMC Zonal Referral Hospital (KCMC ZRH) for treatment while the bodies of the deceased were preserved at Hai District Hospital,” he said, adding that, the relevant authorities have already started investigating the accident.
