Tanzania is scrambling to stop vandalism of its new electric standard gauge railway (SGR) infrastructure after two incidents in recent weeks disrupted train services from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.
The issue reached the floor of Parliament on Tuesday after legislators raised it as a matter of urgency to protect an asset that has lately become Tanzania’s selling point for regional trade.
The MPs demanded that the authorities, led by the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC), install surveillance systems in addition to regular patrols and general regulation of the scrap metal business to prevent the railway from falling into the hands of thieves.
In the past month, at least three bridges have been vandalised as thieves made off with metal equipment for scrap.
Following the incident, the newly introduced electric multiple unit (EMU) train, which began commercial service last week to boost traffic on the SGR line between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, was held up for hours.
Preliminary investigations showed that vandals had cut vital electrical infrastructure, although officials termed it as an act of economic sabotage.
Police said they were holding four suspects to be charged with vandalising government infrastructure. George Katabazi, the Dodoma regional police commander, said the suspects were found with cables belonging to TRC.
The incidents were reported in Msagati, Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region, where suspects last week cut off and stole copper cables from three railway bridges. Police said they arrested suspects who were found with some of the material.
The vandalism reflects the booming scrap metal business in Tanzania.
Experts have said adequate protection of the railway and other vital transport infrastructure should include regulation of the scrap metal trade, as sellers are not often required to provide proof of origin of the scrap, especially since thieves dispose of the metals on the cheap.
A road engineer, Dr Sylvester Mukasa, told The EastAfrican that while the acts of vandalism were not limited to the SGR, they could affect it more because the thieves were targeting the key pillars of the infrastructure.
He said he had observed vandals also cutting metal on bridges along major roads and also tampering with electricity pylons belonging to Tanesco.
In Parliament, the Budget and Infrastructure Committee members described the vandalism as sabotage, with the committee’s chairman Selemani Kakoso calling on authorities to act fast.
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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
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