Restore transport services quickly, PM orders
DAR ES SALAAM: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed government executives in charge of repairing infrastructure damaged by floods in Lindi Region to ensure they expedite restoring transport services.
The Premier issued the directive in Dar es Salaam on Thursday after receiving the report on the impact of the rains that damaged transport infrastructure in Lindi Region recently.
The meeting involved Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and other government experts.
Mr Majaliwa’s directives came after the breakdown of road communication network in some parts of Chibutuka and Nangano in Lindi, rendering areas completely inaccessible.
During the meeting, Mr Majaliwa instructed the team of experts to ensure residents in areas are provided with immediate humanitarian aid.
“Army trucks should be used to deliver humanitarian aid to the nearby areas to facilitate the transportation of essential items such as foods to areas in need by using a helicopter,” he underlined.
The Premier also directed the expert to devise alternative ways to ensure they unlock Liwale District where infrastructure network were damaged.
“The experts should make efforts to open the Nangurukuru- Liwale road, and see how to facilitate the use of Ruangwa-Nangurugwai road – Mbwemkuru – Miluwi – Kiangara road as an alternative route to help open up Liwale,” he asserted.
For his part, Minister for Works Mr Innocent Bashungwa said the government would continue implementing directives given by national leaders to ensure transportation services return to normal by repairing the damaged roads.
On her side, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination), Jenista Mhagama, said the government would ensue it helps all citizens in areas that lack important services after transport infrastructure were damaged.
“We have put in place a plan to help them and make sure they have food to suffice them until the situation gets back to normal…we will begin deploying vehicles carrying food stuff and other necessary services,” she said.
Earlier this week, the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) expressed its determination to ensure all damaged roads are quickly repaired.
TANROADS Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Besta told the ‘Daily News’ in an exclusive interview on Wednesday that the agency through its regional managers was collecting minute-to-minute updates on the areas affected by heavy rains before dispatching emergency teams to restore the situation.
He said the emergency team in every region and zone across the country is composed of contractors with the necessary equipment for the instant reopening of the roads.
Eng Besta said TANROADS was doing its best to reopen all inaccessible areas Lindi Region after heavy rains damaged roads at the beginning of this week, paralyzing transport services.
He said the major affected areas by heavy rainfall in the region included Liwale, Lindi and Nangurukuru, where the raging flood waters blocked roads, including inundating some parts.
He said TANROADS is installing temporary culverts to drain water and restore transport services in some areas rendered inaccessible.
He appreciated the government for allocating funds for the emergency response, noting that in Lindi Region alone a total of 1bn/- was disbursed for the renovation of roads.
