Dar es Salaam — Opposition politicians in Tanzania are criticizing the government for its emergency response to a plane crash Sunday in Lake Victoria that left 19 people dead, including the pilots. Authorities say they were communicating with the pilots immediately after the Precision Air plane crashed on its way from Dar es Salaam to the Kagera region.
Fisherman were among the first responders to the scene, where they used their small boats to try to rescue people on the plane.
Speaking with the BBC, fisherman Majaliwa Jackson — who was one of the first to arrive — said he tried to save the pilots who were stuck in the cockpit. He was stopped by a public announcement speaker who said they were already in communication with the pilots and there was no water leakage in the cockpit.
Tanzania opposition politicians are criticizing authorities, saying a quicker respond to the incident could have saved lives.
James Mbatia, opposition party leader, questioned whether the response would have been different had the plane been carrying government leaders. He added that the deaths were not God’s will, but were due to negligence at the top.
Philbert Macheyeki, a shadow minister for communication and transportation for the opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency political party, said the incident has shamed the country in emergency and rescue systems, and those responsible should be held accountable.
Innocent Bashungwa, minister of defense, responded to public concerns on the need to strengthen the rescue system by saying the government will work on the issue.
Earlier Monday, a funeral service for the 19 victims was held at Kaitaba Stadium, a local football venue in Bukoba. Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa was among the hundreds of people who attended the service.
Meanwhile, authorities say an extensive investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the crash.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania: Samia Hands Over NBC’s 354m/ – Crop Insurance Compensation to Farmers Affected By Hailstorms
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has handed over a cheque of 354m/- from the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) as compensation to tobacco farmers, who were affected by hailstorms during the previous farming season in various regions across the country.
Handing over the cheque in Dodoma, the compensation is part of the crop insurance service provided by NBC in collaboration with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Furthermore, President Samia has also handed over health insurance coverage to members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union based in Lindi Region, through the Farmers’ Health Insurance service provided by the bank in partnership with Assurance Insurance Company.
While visiting the bank’s pavilion at the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition and being received and briefed by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, she said: “This crop insurance is one of the crucial solutions in ensuring farmers have a reliable income, without fear of challenges such as natural disasters, including hailstorms.
“I call upon all farmers in the country to make the best use of this important opportunity by accessing these kinds of insurance services. I also highly commend NBC and all the stakeholders participating in this programme.”
Elaborating further on the crop insurance service, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stated that it will help to recover the loss farmers incurred, especially in various calamities beyond their control.
Citing them as floods, fires, and hailstorms, which have significantly affected the well-being of farmers and caused some to be reluctant to invest in the crucial sector, Mr Bashe added: “However, our President, this step by NBC is just the beginning, as this is the second year since they started offering this service, and the results are already visible.
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“As the government, we promise to continue supporting the wider implementation of this service, with the goal of ensuring that this crop insurance service reaches more farmers.”
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On his part, Mr Sabi said that the farmers who benefited from the compensations are from 23 primary cooperative unions in the regions of Shinyanga, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Katavi, and Kigoma.
He added: “In addition to these insurance services, as a bank, through this exhibition, we have continued with our programme of providing financial education and various banking opportunities to farmers, alongside offering them various loans, including loans for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, to eligible farmers.:
At the NBC booth, President Samia also had the opportunity to be briefed on the various services offered by the bank to the farmers namely crop insurance and health insurance services.
There, the President had the chance to speak with some of the beneficiaries of the services, including the Vice-Chairman of the Lindi Mwambao Primary Cooperative Union, Mr. Hassan Mnumbe, whose union has been provided with a health insurance card from the bank.
Source: allafrica.com
