New Makuyuni-Ngorongoro highway claims first victims
By Staff writer
Within just a month after it was inaugurated by President Benjamin Mkapa, the
newly constructed Ngorongoro to Makuyuni highway has claimed its first victims.
The list of victims comprises five people, reported to be local traders who died
in Karatu section last week, when the lorry they were travelling on, veered off
the road and hit a road bank at Kilimatembo hills area in Karatu district.
Arusha regional police commander, James Kombe confirmed that the accident, which
involved a lorry with registration number ART 311 also rendered about 22 others
seriously injured. It occurred at around 5:30 am.
The ill-fated lorry is said to have been overloaded, carrying various trading
commodities and merchandise for the traders of Karatu who were on their way to
the market at Mto wa Mbu area, in Monduli district.
Kombe said that the unspecified number of petty businessmen and women heading
for Mto wa Mbu public market, had to leave early in order to make it there in
time, when their truck went off the road and smashed into a bank of the newly
constructed Makuyuni-Ngorongoro road, killing t five of the passengers on the
spot.
The lorry driver, Shaaban Wamba failed to negotiate the sharp bend in time and
the truck, travelling at high speed lost control before screeching off the road,
flew over the kerb and crashed onto the walls.
The dead victims were identified as one Teke Andrea, a resident of Sombetini
suburb in Arusha municipality, Mama Majo (31), who hails from Esso area of the
municipality, the other three were identified by single names of Hassan (32),
Hussein and Mfaume.
The bodies were transferred from a hospital belonging to the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) in Karatu district to the mount Meru Regional
hospital mortuary for their immediate relatives to identify them and collect.
The other 22 traders who sustained serious injuries from the crash and admitted
to the Evangelical Lutheran Church Hospital in Karatu, are; John Justine (35)
from Moshi , Felister Raphael (20) a resident of Sakina, Jesse Justine Ishengoma
(29) a resident of Mbokomu suburb in Moshi Municipality, and Stephen Sinda (22)
a resident of Mianzini.
Other are Kassim Hassan (19) a resident of Endasaki in Hanang district of
Manyara region, Samson Malisa (22) a resident of Sakina, Mustafa Omari (31) a
resident of Kambi ya Fisi, Salum Abdallah (19) a resident of Ngarenaro, Godson
Bariki (22) a resident of Unga limited and Mfaume Omari (18) from Esso.
Also David Beda (21) a resident of Ngarenaro, Faustine Beda (19) a resident of
Mbauda, Theophil Philip (35) a resident of Esso, Joseph Justine (30) a resident
of Moshi Municipality, Stella Peter (23), resident of Sakina and Alois Paulo
(28) a resident of Ngarenaro.
Others are Osiana Bangi (13) a resident of Karatu town, Moses Cleopa (26) a
resident Boma Ngo'mbe in Hai district, Kilimanjaro region, Elikana Nasael (18) a
resident of Dareda Kati in Babati district, Manyara region, Charle Alphas (32) a
resident of Mianzini, Richard Joseph (31) a resident of Matejoo suburb here and
Neema Alphas (18) a resident of Sombetini suburb here.
The driver of the ill-fated lorry, who managed to escape immediately after the
accident occurred was still at large as went to press.
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