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Tanzania: MV Bukoba Anniversary Marred By Poor Turnout
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The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
22 May 2008
Posted to the web 22 May 2008
Patty Magubira
Mwanza
A poor turnout yesterday marked the 12 anniversary of the MV Bukoba tragedy in which more than 800 people perished in 1996.
Another 280 passengers survived when the steamer sailing from Bukoba capsized and sank a few kilometres from Mwanza.
The anniversary ceremonies were yesterday for the first time organised by the consumer consultative council of the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra).
Nyamagana District Commissioner Peter Madaha decried the poor turnout, saying there was need to ensure that people were mobilized to mark the day in future.
Memories of the tragedy still lingered in the minds of the residents of the city, but most those interviewed seemed to have not been aware of the hurriedly organised anniversary.
Relatives of those who perished in the tragedy said they appreciated the anniversary, and asked the Government to consider assisting families which lost their breadwinners.
They said a fund could be established to educate children left behind by people which in disasters such as the MV Bukoba tragedy.
They said the government could not escape blame in the accident after it was established that the poorly maintained vessel was grossly overloaded.
Ms Winfrida Muganda, who lost her husband, son and brother-in-law, said widows like herself were overburdened with the responsibility of taking care of four children of her own and three others left behind by her brother.
She said most of the orphans were currently studying in various higher learning institutions where they have not been able to get government sponsorship.
Mr Madaha said the same respect bestowed upon the tragedy victims yesterday should be reflected through the protection of the areas where the victims were buried.
Acting regional commissioner Magallula Magallula called on the city residents to look after memorial sites, particularly the graveyard located at Igoma on the outskirts of the city and a tower located at Bwiru Corner.
He urged travellers to refrain from boarding overloaded or faulty surface and marine transport vessels to avert similar tragedies.
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Sumatra CCC chairman Samson Ipepe earlier said transport vessel operators were duty bound to compensate passengers whenever the later incurred losses caused by the operators' laxity, including being delayed, injured or losing a luggage.
I was the civilian diving instructor sent from Mombasa to assist with the disaster of the Bukoba. Before the South African and Kenya navy arrived it was complete bedlam. No one took responsiblity,the site where the ship went down was a looters paradise. I still suffer from flasbacks recovering the dead including children. If i had known there was to be a rembrance day then i would have attended. My thoughts as always are with the families. Dave Ruddock
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