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Defective Kigoma ferry causes panic
2007-03-25 10:05:10
By Peter Cassonga, PST, Kigoma.
The deplorable condition of a ferry boat, christened, Mv Ilagala across Malagarasi River has been a major source of concern among residents fearing that a tragic accident could happen any time.
They want the government to either suspend ferry services or remove it altogether to thwart temptations to use the ferry. They believe small rowboats were better than the engine powered ferry but with a high risk taken.
Interviewed residents complained that on several occasions they spend hours on one side of the river waiting for engineers to mend the always defective four engines, adding sometimes the battery was not even working to start the engines.
``We cannot continue gambling with our lives with all sorts of complications experienced in the course of operation of the ferry. Rarely all four engines work simultaneously.
It happens that two engines both on one side operate at the expense of our lives. Let the government do something to avert the tragic situation,” one of the residents, Juma Ally explained.
According to the residents, the ferry was inaugurated on April 9, 2005 by the former president Benjamin Mkapa to help farmers and traders carry out their economic activities across either side.
However, the residents confessed that the dream to ease their movement was far from over due to inconveniences experienced almost on daily basis.
``Can you imagine the ferry operators are sometimes obliged to rely on car batteries hired from their customers to start their engines?
All engines are never functional at a go and the vessel becomes less powerful especially when the river is at high tides level,`` said Imrani Sepelu.
Commenting on the situation, the ferry operation supervisor identified by a single name as Madumla admitted existence of the problem, adding the engines were out of order most of the time.
``Initially it was estimated that we would require 500 litres of diesel a week. But we receive about 100 litres only complicating all efforts to provide quality services,`` Madumla explained.
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