TANZANIA: THE Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA) has clarified that the ‘Mv Kazi’ vessel is intact and continues to operate usually and as scheduled.
This comes after complaints from some Kigamboni residents that the ferry services are frequently being disrupted, leaving them stranded.
According to the agency, operations of the ‘MV Kazi’ services have resumed, starting from 4 am to 1pm daily.
‘MV Kazi’ is the only vessel remaining plying the route in collaboration with the sea taxis, after the two ferries — MV Magogoni and MV Kigamboni experienced technical issue and were undergoing repair and maintenance in Kenya.
Speaking with the ‘Daily News’ yesterday through telephone interview on behalf of the CEO, the TEMESA Head of Marketing & Public Relations, Mr Alfred Mgweno, stated that the ferry’s operation continues with its daily transportation activities as planned and it works for about 20 hours a day.
“MV Kazi” could not operate 24 hours a day, and this forced us to revise the schedule so as to allow for necessary maintenance, to enhance the vessel’s efficiency, as it would otherwise become overstrained, “said Mr Mgweno.
The Acting Eastern and Southern Zone Ferry Manager, Engineer Abdlrahman Ameir, also clarified that the ferry service is only suspended in the event of emergencies or technical challenges beyond their control, which have occurred no more than twice and were promptly addressed.
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Eng Ameir explained that emergencies are unplanned, and when they occur, the service is temporarily halted to address the issue quickly.
Furthermore, he stated that the authorities provide regular updates through various platforms whenever there are changes to the ferry operations, and he urged all ferry users to follow and pay attention to the official announcements and information to avoid any confusion.
Furthermore, he emphasised that as there is only one ferry in operation, passengers are kindly requested to read and adhere to the announcements, notices and instructions provided at the ferry terminal and on the authorities’ social media platforms to stay informed.
Previously, some Kigamboni residents who use the ferry to commute to the city centre and other parts of the city for various activities had expressed their frustration with the disruption to the ferry service after 11 pm, beyond the scheduled operating hours until 1 pm.
These residents claimed that the challenge caused them to miss the ferry and remain stranded amidst the night, forcing them to seek alternative transport options like motorcycles, which are often unreliable, especially at night.
It should be noted that since February, the two ferries that were providing transport services from Kigamboni to Magogoni and Magogoni to Kigamboni, MV Kigamboni and MV Magogoni, were taken to Kenya for maintenance and rehabilitation, which is still ongoing and in a good stage.
