PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has tabled a Kilimanjaro Mountain fire disaster report in the Parliament as he thanked civilian firefighters and soldiers for containing the tragedy.
He told the MPs on Thursday that 33 square kilometres of the area is been destroyed but a route leading to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is safe as he assured that tourism activities have not been disturbed.
To contain the disaster, the Premier said, Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) deployed 878 soldiers and two helicopters to support Tanzania National Park Authority (TANAPA) and Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA) and volunteers’ effort in fighting the raged fire.
He said the exercise encountered a lot of challenges including strong winds and geography of the area.
Detailing a permanent strategy to deal with disasters in that area and others in the country, he said, the government is planning to strengthen the disaster unit, but a detailed assessment report after concluding fire-fighting exercise on the Mount.
Some MPs commended the efforts to manage the disaster and as they advised the Government to place military camps near the reserves, ready to deal with such disasters.
“We have received the advice, we will work on it,” the Prime Minister assured the MPs.
