TANZANIANS across the country celebrated Christmas in serenity, despite rare incidents including a road tragedy that claimed five lives.
Police Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) David Misime said that Christmas holiday was marked peacefully, describing a few mishaps, including a car crash which occurred at Iyovi-Mikumu area in Morogoro involving Toyota Allion IT 6954.
“The security situation on Christmas Eve and Christmas day was stable…however there was a car crash which occurred at 12.45 midnight. A vehicle, IT 6954, which was driven by Festo Eliuruma Shoo collided into a lorry due to over speeding,” said SACP Misime.
Elaborating, he said due to heavy rains the driver could not control the vehicle, moving from left to right before it collided with the lorry which was traveling from Iringa to Dar es Salaam.
He noted that the tragic crash claimed the life of a lecturer at Teofilo Kisanji University of Mbeya Region, Greyson Silla Ngongo among other people.
As a result of the accident, SACP Misime warned motorists against excessive speed, which is the factor behind many fatal crashes.
He equally warned all drivers of in-transit vehicles to refrain from raking in passengers, as it is against the law.
“The acts have been rising daily…upon approaching police checkpoints, the passengers drop off and board motorcycles and then return to the vehicle at the next stop. Passengers must know that the IT vehicles are not allowed to carry passengers because they’re not insured,” he stated.
SACP Misime added that two deaths were reported in Chato, Geita Region and Kigamboni in Dar es Salaam. In the first incident, a fisherman headbutted a fellow fisherman in Geita, while in the second incident a person stabbed another person with a knife.
In an interview with the ‘Daily News’, Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Jumanne Muliro noted that the city dwellers marked the celebrations in peace and tranquility.
According to ACP Muliro, the security situation has continued to stabilise as no crime incident has been reported in Dar es Salaam.
“Dar es Salaam residents have continued to celebrate Christmas in peace and tranquility and there is no major crime incident, so the situation is completely calm,” he said.
The Zonal Police Chief however said there were petty crimes like mobile phone theft and ‘bodaboda’ accidents with no major bodily harm.
In the capital city Dodoma, the Regional Police Commander, ACP Martin Otieno reported a calm atmosphere with no crime incident.
“We have maintained security in the streets, churches and recreational areas to ensure that the citizens celebrate Christmas in peace,” said RPC Otieno.
Meanwhile, Shinyanga Police Commander (RPC), Janeth Magoni has banned “disco toto”–a day and night music club sessions which mostly lead to moral erosion as it exposes children to risk behavior such as prostitution and alcoholism.
She said the move comes as a precautionary measure to secure children from moral erosion by ensuring they spend the festive season safely at home.
Ms Magoni underscored the need to protect children from a morally-polluted environment and road tragedies.
“It is the means for protecting and securing children’s lives, they are the future,” she insisted.
The RPC said the Christmas celebrations were marked peacefully in Shinyanga .
The Acting Regional Police Commander in Geita Region, ACP Ally Kitumbu noted that the Police Force made a patrol and controlled the sale of illicit local gin commonly known as “gongo” during the festive season in an effort to tame crime incidents.
Kagera Regional Police Commander, ACP William Mwampaghale told the ‘Daily News’ that no incidents have been reported in the Christmas season.
Morogoro Regional Police Commander, Fortunatus Muslim assured security and safety for Morogoro dwellers and their properties during the festive season and beyond.
