President Samia: Enhance disaster preparedness

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening disaster management systems and ensuring preparedness for emergencies, following the lessons learned from the Kariakoo building collapse.

Dr Samia made this commitment during a luncheon at State House in Dar es Salaam, held to honour those involved in the search and res cue efforts.

The event was a follow-up to her promise made during her visit to the accident site in November 2024.

“Going forward, one key lesson from this disaster is the need to enhance our country’s disaster management frameworks,” she said.

The president underlined the importance of improving emergency preparedness and better managing building construction.

She pointed to the Kariakoo building, which ex ceeded its weight capacity leading to its collapse, as a critical example.

“This is a serious issue. We must ensure that building regulations are strictly followed, and the govern ment must enforce safety standards to prevent such disasters in the future. It’s clear that some buildings in Kariakoo and other areas are at risk, and we must address this,” President Samia said.

Dr Samia underscored the need for improved management of business operations, particularly around tax discrepancies for small-scale traders.

She called for fair tax policies and equal opportunities for local businesses to grow.

The government is planning a new, larger market at Jangwani area, which will provide a safer and more organised space for traders, including those displaced by the Kariakoo building collapse.

“We aim to create a better environment for businesses to operate in, ensuring fair treatment for all traders, both local and foreign,” Presi dent Samia stated.

President Samia also outlined the government’s long-term goal of improving tax collection, with a target of 4tri/- annually, saying this would be achieved through better enforcement of tax laws and supporting business growth nationwide.

President Samia urged all businesspeople to work together for the prosperity of the nation, focusing on safety, fairness and economic growth. “We all have a role to play in building a stronger, more resilient Tanzania,” she said.

During the gathering, President Samia expressed gratitude to all individuals and organisations in volved in the rescue mission. She said that the findings of the investigation committee into the building collapse would be made public once finalised.

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Reflecting on past disasters, Dr Samia acknowledged the devastating effects of floods in Rufiji, Morogoro and other regions, as well as landslides in Hanang, Manyara Region.

She praised the collective response from the government, pri vate sector and the public in mitigating the impact of these disasters.

“The unity and dedication shown during these difficult times demonstrate the true spirit of Tanzanians. Many offered food, water …Recovered items returned to owners Continued from Page 1 business owners. An estimated 2,044 bales and 10,051 bags of clothes, weighing around 850 tonnes, were found in the collapsed building.

However, the building’s weight ca pacity was only 250 tonnes. The collapse of the building in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam, occurred on November 16, 2024.

Besides the tragic loss of 31 lives and 71 injuries, as well as the destruction of property, the event caused widespread shock and sorrow throughout the nation. “A sense of panic overwhelmed the citizens and business activities came to a standstill.

The incident had a profound effect on Kariakoo and Dar es Salaam, halting all economic activities,” he said.

Mr Majaliwa said that in partnership with stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society organisations, religious institutions, the Kariakoo business community and individual citizens, the government took various measures to address the rescue.

He said these also included pro moting the enforcement of safety regulations, ensuring the availability of rescue resources and equipment and offering health and psychological support services to the victims and rescuers.

“Among other actions, a special committee was formed to investigate the building’s collapse and conduct a thorough inspection of other build ings in the Kariakoo area. The com mittee, whose members are present in this event, has concluded its work and the report is ready for presentation,” he said.

Earlier, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila, speaking at the event, said there are several lessons learned from the Energy Summit held in the city. He said that because of the sum mit, cleanliness in the city had been achieved, which had previously seemed impossible.

“The government has laid out strategies to maintain the cleanliness of the city and make it an attractive destination both within Tanzania and beyond,” Mr Chalamila added. The RC also addressed some challenges faced during the summit, particularly regarding hotels.

He announced that a special committee would be formed next week to address the issue, focusing on visiting dilapidated buildings in the city and collaborating with stake holders to improve these structures for investment purposes.

Moreover, he revealed plans to improve tourist attractions like Coco Beach, a new investment plan to en hance access for international visi tors.

“A special plan for the develop ment of a conference park, includ ing hotels and beachfront spaces, is already in place in Kigamboni, with plans to allocate at least 200 hectares for this purpose,” he said.

Mr Chalamila said the efforts are aimed at ensuring that Dar es Salaam is well-prepared to host large international conferences. Additionally, he mentioned that several other proj ects, including road improvements, are being implemented, with funds allocated by the President and other essential supplies to rescue teams.

The support from vari ous stakeholders, including security forces, civil society organisations and development partners, was in valuable,” she said. President Samia also commend ed the significant role played by security agencies in ensuring public safety and maintaining order during the rescue operations.

“One of the key lessons from the Kariakoo tragedy was the need to reinforce building safety regulations. The collapsed building, designed to hold 250 tonnes, was burdened with 800 tonnes. This highlighted broader concerns about structural integrity and construction standards in Kariakoo and other urban areas,” she said.

President Samia also addressed the recovery of valuables from the collapsed building, noting that many items, including money, clothes and other goods, were salvaged and returned to their owners.

“The government worked tirelessly to ensure that both lives and assets were safeguarded,” she added.

Chairperson of traders who survived the Kariakoo building disaster, Matilda Zela acknowledged the tireless work of emergency responders and praised the president for showing both leadership and compassion during the crisis.

She also appealed for continued support for those who lost their businesses and loved ones, urging that they not be forgotten.

Chairman of Kariakoo Market Traders, Severin Mushi, echoed similar gratitude toward the government, emergency teams and individuals who helped during the disaster.

He expressed condolences for the 31 lives lost and reassured the traders’ readi ness to cooperate with the government to ensure the safety of Kariakoo market and the continuation of business activities.

Mr Mushi also raised concerns about unfair competition between Tanzanian and foreign traders, which threatens the local economy. He also pointed out the challenge of accessing the disaster site due to narrow roads. He proposed collaboration with local authorities to improve infrastruc ture in Kariakoo for easier access during emergencies and to enhance business operations.