DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Mobile Network Operators Association (Tamnoa) has donated 240m/- to the government to assist the victims of a mudslide that swept through Katesh township in Hanang District, Manyara Region.
The disaster resulted in the deaths of over 60 people and injured 116 others, as of statistics issued late yesterday.
The mobile operators, including TTCL, Vodacom, Tigo, Halotel, and Airtel, used the funds to provide critical supplies, including 2,000 blankets, essential drinking water, and 100 sacks of rice and maize flour, each weighing 50kg, and 50 sacks of beans.
The Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye, received the donation in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking after receiving the donation, Minister Nape recalled that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had instructed government institutions and authorities to intensify rescue operations, restore infrastructure, and support the landslide victims.
The minister expressed gratitude to Tamnoa for promptly responding to the president’s call and their unwavering patriotism in supporting fellow Tanzanians facing difficult situations.
“The donation of over 240m/- is significant… I am receiving the support on behalf of the government and would like to thank you for acting quickly,” said Mr Nape.
He stated that the donation would be handed over to the Prime Minister’s Office, which handles all disaster management issues in the country. Mr Nape assured that the intended recipients would receive the support.
In response to the incident, the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology dispatched a team to Katesh to assess the infrastructure damage in the area.
According to the latest report, most of the infrastructure remained intact, except for a few areas where power was cut due to electricity infrastructure destruction.
To restore connectivity, the service providers activated standby generators to support the operation of mobile network towers. Efforts were also underway to reconnect areas where the fibre network infrastructure was damaged by the landslide.
The same applied to post offices that were submerged in mud, with ongoing efforts to normalise the situation.
The Chairman of Tamnoa and Managing Director of Vodacom Tanzania, Philip Besiimire, emphasised the need for immediate and compassionate action in response to the tragedy, which affected over 5,600 citizens. He commended the alliance formed by TTCL, Vodacom, Tigo, Halotel and Airtel, stating that their combined efforts had mobilised over 240m/- to provide urgent relief to those affected.
Besiimire highlighted that the collaboration went beyond crisis response. It demonstrated the strength of Tamnoa and the spirit of togetherness. It served as a reminder that when people come together, pooling their resources and compassion, no challenge is too great.
“Our teams and colleagues in the region are working to ensure that services are not disrupted and that the people of Hanang stay connected to their loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this disaster,” said Besiimire.
