|
Authorities accused of incompetence in...
2008-04-03 08:49:03
By Novatus Makunga, PST, Mererani
Relatives, friends and mourners of the departed tanzanite artisanal miners in Mererani have expressed disbelief over claims by Manyara regional authorities that lack of powerful pumps to drain water from eight pits in which some bodies are still trapped hampered rescue operations.
Speaking in reaction to a report by Manyara Regonal Commissioner Henry Shekifu that rescuers spotted 30 bodies underground but managed to lift up only five until yesterday due to lack of water pumps, the miners said the claims were incredible.
``In shops there are thousands of water pumps of different sizes all over the country. We are terribly disappointed by the RC who attributes the slow pace of rescue operations to the lack of water pumps.
Can`t they see them in shops? It is not true that the pumps can only be procured from Nairobi. Besides, how far is Nairobi?
He better tell us that there is no money to buy the pumps or give us a more sensible explanation,`` bitterly complained Mlasani Lemelo, 52, whose son was still missing.
In his report earlier yesterday, RC Shekifu said draining water from the pits had been the most difficult exercise to undertake, citing lack of appropriate water pumps as those in use at the mines were less powerful and aged.
``We intended to buy four more powerful water pumps to speed up rescue operations but until now we haven`t been able to get them,`` explained Shekifu.
Another member of a bereaved family, Luise Mringo, who lost a brother, had this to say: ``We are not interested in the number of bodies counted underground. We want to see them up here and bury them in a dignified manner as President Jakaya Kikwete ordered. We are sick and tired of lame excuses by the local leaders while our loved ones remain buried underground,`` she said.
RC Shekifu said despite decomposition, all bodies recovered had been identified, which was facilitated by lists of missing miners prepared by pit owners.
He said all bodies recovered were collected by relatives for funeral, adding that the government would assist in the burial of those not collected.
If all the 30 bodies found underground were to be brought to the surface the effort would bring to 46 the total number of bodies recovered from the flooded pits.
Heavy rains that pounded the area last Friday night flooded five tanzanite mines at night and caught scores of small-scale miners unawares.
It was reported that approximately 150 miners were underground when the disaster struck, but 99 managed to escape unhurt. It is feared that more bodies were yet to be retrieved.
Other reports yesterday said rescuers pulled out seven bodies, bringing the total number of retrieved bodies to 23, while at least 50 were still missing.
The seven bodies pulled out yesterday were identified as those of Shaban Omar, Athuman Haji, Hedex Mbongo, Fanya Salim, Abdallah Salim, Yusuph Beckham and Nangaya Lengishu.
|
