Samia mourns deaths of Carmelite Sisters

MWANZA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed her heartfelt condolences following the deaths of four Sisters of the Carmelite Missionaries of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus and their driver, who perished in a grisly road accident in Mwanza on Monday night.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of the four Sisters of the Carmelite Missionaries of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus together with their driver, following a road accident in Mwanza,” President Samia wrote on her official social media platforms.

She prayed for eternal rest for the deceased and wished a quick recovery to the sole survivor still under medical care.

The President extended her sympathies to the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) President, Bishop Wolfgang Pisa, the Carmelite Missionary Sisters, the Catholic community, Mwanza Regional Commissioner Said Mtanda, families, friends and all Tanzanians mourning the tragedy.

According to Mwanza Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Wilbrod Mutafungwa, the crash occurred at 1:50 a.m at Bukumbi Village, Idetemya Ward, Misungwi District, along the Usagara– Kigongo Ferry road.

It involved a Toyota Land Cruiser (registration T 852 DGP) belonging to Bukumbi Girls’ Secondary School, driven by Boniphace Peter Msonola (53) and a Sino Truck (registration T 541 DCH) owned by Nyanza Road Works, driven by Venance Mashaka (61).

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Police investigations revealed that the Land Cruiser, travelling from Kigongo Ferry towards Mwanza, attempted to overtake another vehicle at high speed and collided head-on with the oncoming truck.

Four people died instantly, while one succumbed at Bukumbi Hospital. The deceased include Sr Nelina Semeoni (60), Superior of the Carmelite Missionaries and an Italian national; Sr Lilian Kapongo (55) of Tabora; Sr Damaris Matheka (51), Head of Bukumbi Girls’ Secondary School from Kenya; Sr Stellamaris Kamene Muthin (48) of Kenya and the driver, Mr Msonola, a resident of Bukumbi. One survivor, Sr Pauline Vicent Mipata, a student supervisor at the school, is receiving treatment at Bugando Zonal Referral Hospital.

The bodies of the deceased are preserved at the same hospital for post-mortem. Police confirmed the Sino Truck driver is in custody, urging all motorists to observe traffic rules and speed limits to prevent road carnage.