Disaster management is collective responsibility, says Mhagama

DAR ES SALAAM: MINISTER of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, and Coordination), Jenista Mhagama, has underscored the significance of collective efforts for everyone in their area to take action in order to prevent and lessen the consequences that can be caused by El Nino.

Ms Mhagama made the remarks on Monday while opening a two-day workshop session for the Dar es Salaam Regional Disaster Management Committee, to review the implementation of the plan to strengthen the ability to prevent and prepare for the consequences of El Nino.

“Disaster management is a collective responsibility. Everyone should participate now and take action in their areas to save and protect lives, property, and the environment,” she said.

She also advised each member of the committee to actively carry out the measures that must be implemented in their sectors, since the damage could worsen if the proper steps would not be taken on time.

“After today’s session, I expect that the committee, particularly at the level of all regional councils, will increase the use of preventative measures in order to guarantee that we save lives and property,” she elaborated.

Explaining the purpose of the session, she said the government started implementing measures to prevent the effects since July this year soon after the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) cautioned that most parts of the country are set to receive above-normal to normal rains during the season, which is expected to be influenced by El Nino conditions.

She said that according to TMA, the rains are expected to start from the fourth week of September to the first week of October this year in Kagera Region and spread to other areas during the second week of October this year.

Elaborating, she said, usually the October rains are specific to areas of the northeastern highlands (Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions), the northern coast (northern part of the Morogoro Region), Coast Region (including the Mafia Isles), Dar es Salaam, and Tanga.

Other regions are the Unguja and Pemba Islands, the Lake Victoria Basin (Kagera, Geita, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Simiyu and Mara regions) and the northern part of the Kigoma Region.

Earlier, while welcoming the minister, the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Mr Albert Chalamila called on citizens to take the precautions given by the relevant authorities.