Climate change accelerates coastal erosion in Bagamoyo

DODOMA: THE government has acknowledged that Bagamoyo beaches in the Coast Region are among the areas severely affected by coastal erosion, a result of climate change and rising sea levels.

The impact has caused significant damage to both residential areas and farmland.

Deputy Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr Geofrey Pinda, made the statement in Parliament yesterday on behalf of the Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment).

He identified nine locations in Bagamoyo currently affected by saltwater intrusion as Livingstone, Stella Maris Hotel, Travella Lodge, Kaole, Changwahel, Razaba, Kitame, Mlingotini and Kondo.

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The deputy minister was responding to a question from the Bagamoyo MP, who inquired about the government’s plans to construct a seawall to curb the ongoing erosion.

“To address these challenges, the government continues to assess the extent of the damage and is mobilising resources through various climate adaptation financing mechanisms, including the Adaptation Fund, GEF, GCF and support from development partners,” Mr Pinda said.

He assured that construction of the seawall will begin once funding is secured. In a supplementary question, Kilombero MP Abubakar Assenga asked whether the government plans to deploy a special environmental task force to assess the situation in Bagamoyo and address the challenges posed by the Ifakara River to residents.

In response, Mr Pinda confirmed that a task force is already in place to assess the situation in Bagamoyo and said the government would consider the MP’s suggestion to conduct a similar assessment of the Ifakara River.