Some submerged houses at Kinondoni Mkwajuni after the downpour:
EIGHT people have died in Dar es Salaam following incessant rains that pounded the country's commercial capital for the third consecutive day on Friday.
Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Saidi Mecki Sadiki, said on Friday that two of the bodies, a 75-year old man and a toddler had been identified by their relatives.
Mr Sadiki said the victims had drowned and their bodies were retrieved from various parts of the city. He reiterated earlier calls for people living in valleys to vacate the flood-prone areas and heed to weather forecasts for there will be more rains in the city.
He disclosed that the government had won most of the cases, which were filed by some dwellers of flood prone areas in the city who were protesting against their eviction.
However, he called upon relevant authorities in the region and all those in authority not to allow flood victims to occupy public places such as schools and bus stands, which is causing a lot of trouble and nuisance to students and the public at large. "It is unfair for people to occupy school buildings and disrupt students and pupils' lessons," he said.
The ongoing heavy rains have rendered hundreds of people homeless after their houses were submerged in water. "Imagine even after the government had decided to help people living in flood prone places, the latter keep returning to the dangerous areas and then blame the government when disaster strikes," he said.
"These residents were given the chance to move to safe and surveyed areas at Mabwepande and some of those who heeded to the government call have already been issued with title deeds," he said.
He was also quick to note that some politicians from various political parties have continued to influence people in defying the government for residents to relocate.
Mr Sadiki advised families currently occupying public facilities to look for other alternatives such as staying with relatives or friends, rather than disturbing other people and students who have to miss classes because of the crisis.
Meanwhile, the RC has said that some roads will be closed or diverted whenever city authorities feel the need to do so for the safety of motorists and pedestrians.
This paper witnessed several areas where valley dwellers left homeless have taken temporary shelter and most of those interviewed claim that they do not have any other place to go.
Most houses at Jangwani valley are submerged in the water and many residents have resorted to occupy schools and bus stands for shelter.
During the visit at Jangwani area and Magomeni, the Morogoro road stretch covering this area was earlier closed temporarily and re-opened when the waters subsided.
Speaking to the residents of these areas, there was panic in most of the families since they were not sure what next step to take. "I cannot think of any alternative, especially at this time when the rains are looming high and water continue to flood the areas.
As the death toll reached eight yesterday, Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA), announced that heavy rains would continue in various parts of the country.
A survey by this paper found out that rains which started on Friday last week, damaged the city's infrastructure. In Buguruni Kwamnyamani, many residential houses were under water with properties whose value was yet to be established damaged.
Mr Sadiki said that the houses that were flooded in the area were estimated to be over 250. Regional authorities, until on Friday evening were busy trying to save the residents at Kwamnyamani.
Areas which were badly affected by rains according to this paper's spot check include Jangwani, Mikocheni, some parts of Buguruni, Kinondoni and Kigogo. TMA Director General, Dr Agnes Kijazi, said that heavy rainfall exceeding 50 millimetres in 24 hours should be expected until May 25.
"We are still expecting theses rains, therefore Tanzanians should continue taking all necessary precautions," she hinted. Last week, the agency listed regions that were likely to experience heavy downpour as Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Mtwara, Coast regions and Unguja Island.
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