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Diallo cheats death
2007-05-12 10:01:24
By Emmanuel Chacha, Mwanza
The Minister for Livestock Development Anthony Diallo and several Chama Cha Mapinduzi leaders narrowly escaped death after the boat in which they were travelling from Mwanza to Nansio, Ukerewe Island, capsized in Lake Victoria.
Reports from Ukerewe said the boat, christened Mv. Mlinzi and belonging to the Fisheries Division, sank yesterday at around 10:30am near Mabibi Island after it was hit by strong waves.
It had eight people on board including two captains Mchama Marwa and Herman Lubala.
They included Kagera Regional CCM Chairman Pius Ngeze, Mwanza CCM Regional Secretary Rajabu Kundya, Ukerewe District Commissioner Peter Toima and Member of Parliament-Special Seat (CCM Mwanza) Maria Hewa.
Others were Mwanza Regional CCM Publicity Secretary Simon Mangelepa, Ukerewe District Council Chairman Ali Mambila and a businessman, Oswald Mwizarubi.
According to Kundya, the delegation was going to Ukerewe to attend the burial of former Ukerewe District CCM chairman Edward China who passed away on May 6.
Kundya told the Guardian from Nansio that while crossing the lake, both boat engines went silent before they were restarted to continue with the journey.
``However, water penetrated from the bottom where the boat had developed cracks due to strong waves in the lake. Within no time the boat was full of water and capsized leaving all of us floating,” Kundya recalled the horrific moment.
One of the two captains, Lubala, was quoted as saying that the trouble began when they reached the area called Haluti, where he was compelled to slow down due to strong waves that forced water into the boat.
``As the situation degenerated to a state of emergency, I informed the passengers about the situation and advised them to put on life jackets,`` he said.
On his part, Oswald Mwizarubi said it took them nearly one hour before they were rescued by an engine powered boat of a fisherman who had gone to the area to collect his fishing nets.
Three of the victims, Hewa, Toima and Ngeze needed assistance from their colleagues as they were too tired to support themselves with the life jackets.
When asked to speak of the ordeal, Minister Diallo simply said: “Kindly allow me to take a break after all what had happened.``
The victims were taken to Nansio District Hospital for treatment. All were treated and discharged.
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