President Samia stresses road safety

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has reiterated her call for drivers to continue being more cautious and careful on the road, to ensure safety of all road users.

The Head of State also directed the Police Force to continue its work of enforcing road safety laws, rules and regulations during this end-of-year season.

Dr Samia issued the directives yesterday through her X handle as she conveyed her condolence message to the families, relatives and friends following a tragic accident that occurred on Thursday on Tarakea – Moshi Road in Kilimanjaro Region claiming nine lives.

“I am saddened by the report of the deaths of our nine relatives caused by the road accident that occurred on Tarakea – Moshi Road in Kilimanjaro Region. I pray for the deceased to rest in peace. I extend my condolences to the bereaved families, relatives and friends and I wish the injured a swift recovery,” Dr Samia said.

“I insist on drivers to continue being more cautious and careful on the road, while the Police Force continues its work of enforcing road safety laws during this end-of-year period,” she said.

According to Police Force, nine people died in the accident after a minivan (Noah) collided head-on for the decease with a bus on December 26, this year, leaving one pedestrian injured.

The Police said the accident occurred at Kibaoni Village, Tarakea Division, Rombo District, involving a passenger bus with registration number T.620 DZQ owned by Ngasere Company, travelling from Dodoma to Tarakea and a Toyota Noah, with registration number T959 CKU, heading to Moshi from Tarakea.

According to Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander (RPC) Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Simon Maigwa, all nine fatalities were passengers in the minivan.

“Among those identified were Mamasita Lowasa, aged 27, from Kamwanga, Damarisi Kanini Mwikau, aged 22, from Elast, Kenya, Peter Alex Urio, aged 38, Monica Joyce Mumbua, aged 64, a Kenyan national, Eligatanasi Kanje, aged 30, from Tarakea and Hilda Francis Leberatus, aged 24, from Kikelelwa. The identities of three other victims were yet to be established,” said APC Maigwa.

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He said a pedestrian, who is yet to be identified was injured in the crash and was taken to Huruma Hospital in Rombo District for treatment. Latest report from the Police showed yesterday that the number of people who died in a road accident reached 10 after another person who was injured in the accident died on Thursday night.

“The 10th person who died was not one of the passenger’s in the vehicles involved in the accident but was walking along the area where the accident occurred and was taken to Huruma Hospital in Rombo for treatment,” RPC Maigwa confirmed.

According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that the accident was caused by reckless driving by the Toyota Noah’s driver, who attempted to overtake other vehicles without taking necessary precautions.

He said the bodies of the deceased are preserved at Huruma Hospital as authorities continue with investigations.

RPC Maigwa urged road users to adhere to traffic regulations and prioritise safety to prevent similar tragedies. President Samia has been issuing several directives regarding road safety following alarming road carnage that have claimed numerous lives and causing injuries.

In her latest directives Dr Samia directed the Police Force in the country to put in place a system that will allow the deduction of points from driving licences owned by drivers who commit traffic offences that jeopardise the safety of road users.

“This system should keep records electronically on the trend of drivers’ traffic offences and then be used to determine whether they should continue to retain their driving licences or not… this will help to improve the current system, where drivers often just pay fines and be allowed to continue driving,” Dr Samia directed recently.

She said the directives are in addition to her call to the public and the directives she issued to the Police Force and security organs on December 4, this year on the need to step up vigilance and enforcement of road safety laws.

“Human life is irreplaceable, and we must continue to take joint and decisive actions to ensure it is protected at all costs.

These actions include ensuring that vehicles riding on the roads meet the necessary standards for road use and that those driving them have the qualifications, criteria and records required to continue doing so,” Dr Samia insisted.