Shukurani Kutoka Familia ya Biswalo

 

The Late Buyoya Biswalo (1981-2013)

Salaam!

To our dearest family and friends, we would like to express our sincerest gratitude for your prayers, continuing support, both emotionally and financially, and presence this weekend for those of you who were able to join us in Atlanta as we laid our beloved Buyoya Paul to rest. As we begin the healing process, let us keep his memory alive and live each day as he did, with a passion for life and a heart for everyone you meet.

 In Peace, 

The Biswalo Family.

Ajali ya MV Skagit

Wadau, yaani ajali za meli zinatokea Tanzania lakini hatuoni Improvements katika ukoaji wa maisha wa binadamu. Lini serikali ya Tanzania itathamini maisha ya watu wanaosafiri na meli?  Nadhani kwa saa Tanzania inaongoza kwa ajali ya meli na vifo vya watu baharini na maziwani! Viongozi wa Tanzania hebu acheni uchu wa kununua magari ya fahari etc.! 

Mboreshe jeshi la Navy ( Wanamaji), mboreshe hospitali zetu pia kusudi watu wasiwe na haja ya kwenda kutibiwa nje za nje!!!

Waliotengeza hiyo melihapa Marekani wanasema kuwa meli ilijengwa kwa kubea watu 230 tu! Yaani Maximum capacity ni 230.  Inakuaje ilikuwa imebeba karibu watu 400 na mizigo!!!!!

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Kutoka REUTERS:

(Reuters) - Rescue workers fought rough seas on Thursday to search for survivors after an overcrowded ferry sank near the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar, but hopes of finding people alive were slim.


At least 68 people were confirmed dead and 145 were rescued after the MV Skagit/Kalama capsized around midday on Wednesday near Chumbe island, west of Zanzibar.

The vessel had set sail from mainland Tanzania to the semi-autonomous archipelago, a popular tourist beach destination. One U.S. citizen was among the dead.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Maisara Grounds park near Zanzibar's historic Stone Town area on Thursday to identify bodies laid out in a tent.

Tatu Kwiyela, a 35-year-old woman from mainland Tanzania, survived the accident but her nine-month-old son died.

"I was swept away by strong waves and lost my son, Saidi Jumanne. I tried to hang on to him but he disappeared into the sea," said Tatu, who managed to identify his remains.

Police said more than 10 foreign tourists, including a group of Dutch holidaymakers, were among the rescued passengers.

"One of those killed in the ferry accident is an American citizen. The body has been recovered and is being preserved at a mortuary," Zanzibar police spokesman Mohammed Mhina said.

The ferry, with a maximum carrying capacity of 250 people according to Zanzibar marine authorities, was carrying 290 people, officials said.

"Out of the 68 dead victims, 54 bodies have been identified so far by their relatives and taken for burial," Mhina said.

"We will continue with the search and rescue operation tomorrow morning, although it is becoming increasingly difficult to find any survivors now."

There were at least 145 survivors.

Rescue teams battled heavy winds and rough seas in their search effort. Divers trying to pluck more bodies from the wreckage said they were not able to reach the vessel.


"The sunken boat is below depths of 25 meters (82 ft) ... we tried to go as deep as we could but could not locate it," Ali Ramadhani, one of the divers, said.

"All we've seen today are bodies floating in the sea. I don't think we are going to find anyone alive. The sea is very rough, it is difficult for anyone to survive in such conditions."

Some of the victims' relatives said they were angry at authorities for lax safety regulations, especially after more than 200 people were killed in a ferry accident in September in Zanzibar's worst maritime disaster.

"The government has killed all these people. They must bring the owner of the boat to us," said Abdallah Sadick whose brother was among the missing passengers.

Zanzibar residents said passenger ships are notoriously overcrowded and there are few safety inspections.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete ordered an investigation into the incident and announced three days of national mourning.

Kwa habari zaidi someni:

http://news.yahoo.com/31-dead-over-100-missing-zanzibar-ferry-disaster-064550620.html

http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/zanzibar-ferry-was-seaworthy-1.1345841

Mnaweza kuona Video HAPA:




MV Skagit wakati inafanya kazi Seattle, Washington USA kabla ya kwenda Tanzania.  Hapa MArekani wansema kuwa meli hiyo ilijengwa kwa ajili ya kusafirisha watu 230 tu!!!!  Inakuaje ilikuwa na watu 400 na mizigo!!!  Uchu wa pesa itafanya watu waende motoni!

Watu Zaidi ya 100 wahofia Kufa - Ajali ya MV Skagit

Baadhi ya wananchi wakiwa katika Foleni ili kwenda kuzitambua Maiti zao katika Viwanja vya Maisara kutokana na  kuzama kwa Meli ya  skagit hapo jana katika Eneo la karibu na Kisiwa cha Chumbe Zanzibar.

 Kutoka BBC.com BOFYA HAPA KUONA VIDEO

A naval search operation resumed at first light to find an estimated 100 people missing after a Tanzanian ferry sank near Zanzibar's main island.

The boat had left the city of Dar es Salaam on mainland Tanzania on Wednesday with 290 people on board.
So far 34 bodies have been recovered and more than 150 people rescued.
Zanzibar's police spokesman told the AFP news agency he feared there was now little hope of finding survivors from the MV Skagit ferry.
"Search operations continue but it is now almost impossible survivors will be found," the agency quotes him as saying.
Three days of mourning Survivors said they fear some of the passengers became trapped in vessel when it capsized in strong winds.
Some complained that they had initially been told everything would be OK and were not shown how to put on life jackets.
Then as the ferry went down, they jumped overboard clinging to life boats that automatically inflated, before being rescued by a passing tug boat.

Ali Mohamed Shein, president of the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, has declared three days of national mourning.
The ferry left Dar es Salaam at 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Wednesday bound for the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago.
Hamza Kabelwa, director of the Tanzania Meteorological Agency, told the BBC's Swahili service that a warning had been issued for vessels not to make the crossing because of the rough seas.
Zanzibar's transport minister told reporters that two Europeans were among the dead.
The rescue operation had to be abandoned on Wednesday evening because of bad weather.
The BBC's Hassan Mhelela in Dar es Salaam says on Thursday morning there were many anxious relatives of missing MV Skagit passengers at the airport waiting to fly to Zanzibar.
The route between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar is a busy crossing, popular with both Tanzanians and foreign tourists.
Last September, nearly 200 people died when an overcrowded boat with 800 people aboard sank off Zanzibar.

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Baadhi ya maiti ya watoto waliokufa katika ajali ya MV Skagit.  Mungu alaze roho zao mahala pema mbinguni.  Jamani lini serikali itadhibiti usalama wa usafiri wa meli Tanzania!!!!!

Maiti zikihifadhiwa katika viwanja vya Maisara mjini Zanzibar tayari kwa utambuzi wa ndugu na jamaa.

 

Meli Yazama Zanzibar Leo! Watu Zaidi ya 15 wahofia Kufa!

Hata mwaka haijapita  tangu ajali mbaya ya MV Spice Islander na kuna habari kuwa meli nyingine imezama pwani ya Zanzibar! Watu zaidi ya 15 wamekufa.  Hiyo meli ilikuwa imebeba wageni pamoja na wazawa.

Natoa pole kwa wafiwa wote.  Lini serikali ya Tazania itaingilia usalama wa meli na ferry zetu? Itabidi watu wangapi wafe?

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Baadhi ya Wageni Kutoka nchi za Nje walioponea ajali ya meli leo pwani ya Zanzibar. Picha na Reuters

Kutoka Reuters:

Vessel said to have been hit by high winds


By Ally Saleh

STONE TOWN, Zanzibar, July 18 (Reuters) - A ferry with more than 280 people on board, including some foreigners, sank off the east African coast of the Zanzibar archipelago on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people, the government said.

The ferry, MV Skagit/Kalama, set sail from the mainland Tanzania at around midday heading to Zanzibar, Tanzania's semi-autonomous archipelago and a popular tourist destination.

Rescue boats and divers were searching for any remaining survivors on the mostly submerged vessel.

"So far 15 bodies have been recovered," Mwinyihaji Makame, a state minister in the president's office, told reporters.

Government spokesman Yusuf Chunda added: "One foreigner, a woman is among the dead. Thirteen other foreigners were rescued and are in hospital."

It was not clear how many other foreigners had been on board. Zanzibar police spokesman Mohammed Mhina said by telephone that many passengers were missing.

"More than 200 people are believed to have been on board the boat when it capsized. We don't know how many of them sank with the boat," Mhina said.

"The rescue operation is ongoing as we speak but almost the entire boat has been submerged in water ... only a small part of the boat is now visible."

Preliminary reports indicated the vessel had capsized after being hit by strong winds and waves, he said.

Police said the vessel was carrying 250 adult passengers and 31 children when it capsized near Chumbe island, west of Zanzibar.

The ferry is owned by a company named Seagull, which also runs a number of other ferries. Previous reports had indicated the vessel was called MV Salama.

More than 200 people were killed when a crowded ferry sank in September off the coast of east Africa in the worst maritime disaster in the history of Zanzibar. (Additional reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala in Dar es Salaam; Editing by James Macharia, Yara Bayoumy and Alison Williams)

Wanne Washitakiwa! Ajali ya meli MV Spice Islanders

Haya wadau, watu wanne wameshitakiwa mahakamani. Naona kama hao ni watu wadogo. Nahodha wa hiyo meli yuko wapi?  Kwa nini alikubali kuondoka na meli ambayo kila mtu aliona imejaa kupindukia. Pia, kwa nini meli iliruhusirwa kuondoka bandarini.  Huko Dar walilazimishwa kushusha mizigo kabla ya kuruhusiwa kuondoka bandarini na kuelekea Zanzibar. Au Nahaodha alikufa katika ajali. Kuna ule usemi Nahodha anakufa na meli yake! (The Captain always goes down with his ship). Au anakataa mitaa ya Dar?

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STONE TOWN, Tanzania (AP) - Tanzanian authorities have charged four men with negligence over a ferry sinking that cost more than 240 lives a week ago.
 It's unclear how many passengers were aboard, but more than 800 people survived by clinging onto pieces of wood or crowding onto lifeboats.

 "It is a relief to us to hear that a handful of people were charged, but we believe the real culprits remain untouched," said survivor Suleiman Malik. "We wish to see some big fish fished out and face the long arms of the law."

The ferry owner Yusuf Suleiman Jussa, 47, first officer Abdallah Mohamed Ali, 30, and Zanzibar Ports Authority employee Silima Nyange Silima, 27, all were charged with contravening the Maritime Act by allowing the heavily overloaded M.V. Spice Islander to leave port.

Captain Said Abdullah Kinyanyite, who remains missing, was charged in absentia.

Ramadhan Nassib from the Directorate of Public Prosecution said the four were responsible for the deaths after the ferry sank at night in an area of deep seas and strong currents.

The suspects were not allowed to enter a plea after the charges were read out to a packed courtroom late on Friday.

MV Spice Islander bandarini Zanzibar photo by Photo by Nipun Srivastava

MV Spice Islander Ilikuwa na Abiria 3,000 Ilipozama!

Wadau, kuna madai kuwa hiyo meli MV Spice Islander ilikuwa na abiria 3,000 wakati ilipozama! Maiti za waliokufa maji zinaanza kuonekana Mombasa.

MV Spice Islander Ikipakia Mizigo Zanzibar

Kutoka Gazeti la Mwananchi:

Elias Msuya na Jackson Odoyo, Zanzibar


MELI ya MV Spice Islanders iliyopata ajali mwishoni mwa wiki iliyopita na kusababisha vifo vya takriban watu 200 na majeruhi 619 ambao waliokopolewa, ilibeba abiria 3,000 wakati uwezo wake ni kubeba abiria 600 tu.Habari zilizolifikia gazeti hili jana zimeeleza kuwa idadi hiyo kubwa ya abiria, haijumuishi mizigo ambayo kiasi chake bado hakijajulikana.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Kaskazini Pemba, Dadi Fakhi Dadi alisema jana kuwa mkoa huo umepoteza watu 1,600 katika ajali hiyo, huku Wilaya ya Wete pekee ikiwa imepoteza watu 1,141.Dadi alisema hayo alipokuwa akizungumza mbele ya Makamu wa Kwanza wa Rais wa Zanzibar, Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad.

“Wilaya ya Micheweni imepoteza watu 367, huku Wilaya ya Mkoani, Mkoa wa Kusini Pemba ikipoteza watu 27 na Wilaya ya Chakechake imepoteza watu 148,” alisema Dadi na kuongeza:

“Kwa idadi hiyo ikijumlishwa na idadi ya watu 619 waliosalimika katika ajali hiyo na wengine 204 waliotambuliwa na kuzikwa na wengine watano waliookotwa Mombasa, huenda meli ile ilikuwa na watu 3, 000,” alisema Dadi.

Kutokana na takwimu zinazoendelea kukusanywa, hadi sasa zaidi ya watu 2,000 hawajulikani walipo, mbali ya wale 198 walioopolewa na kuzikwa na wengine 619 walionusurika.

Wabunge wa CUF wajiandaa kuishtaki Serikali

Wakati Serikali ikiendelea kukusanya takwimu za waliokufa au kupotea kwenye ajali hiyo, baadhi ya wabunge wa Chama cha Wananchi (CUF), wamekuwa wakizunguka majimboni mwao kufanya tathmini kwa lengo la kuishtaki Serikali.

Mbunge wa Jimbo la Ziwani, Ahmed Juma Ngwali alisema anatafuta idadi kamili ya wananchi wake walioathirika kwa ajali hiyo ili afanye utaratibu wa kuishtaki Serikali kutokana na uzembe uliosababisha ajali hiyo.

“Tukishapata orodha kamili ya wananchi, nakwenda kutafuta orodha ya abiria waliokuwa kwenye meli, nalinganisha. Kwa wale waliokuwa na tiketi, nitasimamia walipwe bima zao na mmiliki wa meli. Wale waliozidi nitaishtaki Serikali kwa kuzembea,” alisema Ngwali.

Ngwali aliyekuwa akizunguka nyumba hadi nyumba kuorodhesha watu hao, alisema kwa kiasi kikubwa, Serikali ndiyo iliyofanya uzembe katika tukio hilo.

“Huu ni uzembe na ni lazima twende mahakamani. Ikiwa samaki wa Magufuli (Waziri wa Ujenzi), hadi leo wanasotesha watu mahakamani, itakuja kuwa watu?” alisema.

Mbunge wa Ole, Rajab Mbarouk alisema anakusudia kupeleka hoja binafsi bungeni ili kumwajibisha Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda kwa tukio hilo.

"Inaonyesha Serikali haina takwimu sahihi, ndiyo maana sisi tumeamua kufanya tathmini ya kina,” alisema na kuongeza kuwa tathmini hiyo itamsaidia kuratibu misaada anayopata kutoka kwa mashirika mbalimbali kwa ajili ya watu walioathirika katika tukio hilo.

“Kwa mfano sasa Benki ya Watu wa Kenya (KCB) imetoa ahadi ya kusomesha watoto yatima waliofiwa na wazazi katika ajali hiyo. Lazima niwe na takwimu sahihi za kuwapa benki hiyo,” alisema Mbarouk.

Akizungumzia suala la Waziri Mkuu mbunge huyo alisema: “Sisi ni wasemaji wa wananchi siyo Serikali. Nina mpango wa kupeleka hoja binafsi Bungeni ili Waziri Mkuu awajibike.”

Alieleza sababu za kutaka Waziri Mkuu awajibike kuwa ni pamoja na Serikali kupuuza swali lake alilouliza bungeni kuhusu usalama wa vyombo vya majini hadi sasa.

Kazi ya kuwaokoa walizama bado nguvu

Kazi ya uokoaji wa miili ya watu wanaosadikiwa kunasa ndani ya meli hiyo inaonekana kuwa ngumu baada ya wataalamu wa uokoaji kutoka Afrika Kusini kushindwa kuendelea na kazi kutokana na kina kirefu cha maji katika eneo hilo.

Tetesi za kushindikana kwa kazi hiyo zilianza kusikika jana kutoka kwa wavuvi ambao wamekuwa wakifanya kazi zao katika eneo hilo kwa kipindi kirefu huku. Wavuvi hao wanasema eneo hilo lina urefu wa zaidi ya mita 300 kutoka usawa wa bahari.

Mzamiaji kutoka eneo la Nungwi, Karim Abdallah alisema: “Hili eneo tunalifahamu lina kina kirefu sana unaweza kubeba kamba zinazojaza boti na ukifika eneo hilo na kutupa nanga haifiki chini, tulifahamu kwamba wataalamu hao hawawezi kufanya lolote katika eneo hilo.”

Kauli ya wavuvi hao ilionekana kuthibitishwa na Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar (SMZ) ambayo iliamua kuondoa mahema yaliyokuwa yamewekwa katika fukwe za Nungwi kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi miili ilinayopatikana.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Kaskazini Unguja, Pembe Juma alisema wameamua kuanua mahema hayo kwa sababu uwezekano wa kupata miili iliyobaki ni mdogo.

“Tumelazimika kuondoa mahema hayo kwa sababu hali inavyoonekana ni wazi kuwa wataalamu hao wanaweza wakashindwa kupata miili ya watu wanaokisiwa kubaki katika eneo hilo” alisema Juma.

Hata hivyo, alipoulizwa juu ya hali ya waokoaji hao ambao bado wako katika eneo la tukio wakiongozwa na Kikosi cha Maji cha Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ) alisema: “Sina mamlaka ya kuzungumzia mazingira ya wataalamu hao isipokuwa taarifa nilizonazo kwa sasa ndizo hizo nilizowapa.”

Wataalamu hao walitakiwa kuanza kazi hiyo juzi lakini wakashindwa kuendelea na kazi hiyo kwa sababu ya hali ya bahari kuwa mbaya. Hata hivyo, walianza tena kazi hiyo leo ingawa si kwa kuingia baharini kutafuta waliokwama chini ya maji, bali kutafuta maiti zinazoelea katika maeneo mbalimbali ya Tanga, Mombasa, Unguja na Pemba.

Katika hatua nyingine mtu mmoja alinusurika jana baada ya kuwadhihaki hadharani watu waliokumbwa na mkasa huo wa ajali ya meli kwa kudai kwamba walistahili.

Mashuhuda waliokuwapo katika eneo hilo walidai kuwa sekunde chache baada ya kutamka maneno hayo, alivamiwa na watu waliokuwa eneo hilo lakini akafanikiwa kukimbilia katika duka la vitabu la Masomo na hatimaye kuokolewa na Polisi wa Kikosi cha Kutuliza Ghasia (FFU) wakiongozwa na Mkuu wa Polisi Kituo cha Malindi, Haji Mgoro.

Mkurugenzi wa duka hilo, Farouk Karim Karim alisema hatua ya mtu huyo kukimbilia dukani kwake ilihatarisha maisha yake baada ya umati watu kufunga mitaa yote inayozunguka Soko Kuu la Darajani ukimlazimisha kumtoa mtu huyo vinginevyo waingie kumtoa wenyewe.

“Kwa kweli mimi sikufahamu hata walipoanzia. Nilikuwa hapa dukani ghafla nikashtuka mtu anaingia ndani huku akisema nakufa, kabla hata sijamuuliza kilichomsibu umati watu ukawa umeshajazana dukani kwangu ndipo nilipolazimika kufunga mlango na kuwaita polisi,” alisema Karim.

Seif atoa mkono wa pole

Maalim Seif, jana aliongoza ujumbe wa viongozi wa Serikali kutoa pole kwa wafiwa waliopoteza ndugu na jamaa zao. Katika ziara hiyo, alifuatana Mawaziri wasiokuwa na Wizara Maalumu; Haji Faki Shaali na Machano Othman Said, Waziri wa Ustawi wa Jamii na Maendeleo ya Vijana, Wanawake na Watoto, Zainab Omar na Waziri wa Mifugo na Uvuvi, Said Ali Mbarouk.

Akizungumza na ndugu na jamaa wa marehemu hao katika Ukumbi wa Umoja ni Nguvu, Mkoani na baadaye Uwanja wa Gombani katika Mkoa wa Kusini Pemba, Maalim Seif aliwataka wakazi wa Zanzibar, kuvuta subira kwa kuwa msiba huo ni wa taifa zima na ni mipango ya Mungu.

Alisema Serikali inaamini kuwa kulikuwa na uzembe katika tukio hilo ndiyo maana imeamua kuunda tume huru ambayo itafanya uchunguzi wa kina kuhusu suala hilo.Alisema Serikali haitasita kumchukulia hatua mtendaji yeyote atakayebainika kuhusika katika uzembe uliosababisha ajali hiyo.Akiwa Mkoa wa kusini Pemba, Maalim Seif ametoa mkono wa pole na ubani kwa familia zaidi ya 112.

SA Divers Unable to Reach Sunken MV Spice Islander

Yaani samahani, lakini hao divers wanaonekana kama watalii wakiogelea beach! Vifaa vyao vya diving viko wapi! Na eti Submarine haiwezi kuja mpaka mwezi wa 6 mwakani mpaka tume iundwe, KHAA?  Ina maana hata kama kuna maiti huko, zitakuwa zimekwisha liwa  na samaki na kubakia nguo zao tu!

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South African divers spotted on Tumbatu Island yesterday preparing to begin searching for bodies of Zanzibar marine tragedy victims still unaccounted for. (Photo: Khalfan Said)

Kutoka IPPMEDIA.com

SA divers fail to reach sunk MV Spice Islander


By The guardian reporter

15th September 2011
South African divers spotted on Tumbatu Island yesterday preparing to begin searching for bodies of Zanzibar marine tragedy victims still unaccounted for. (Photo: Khalfan Said)Efforts to reach the sunken MV Spice Islander lying 360 metres deep in the water at Nungwi proved futile yesterday after divers discovered that the equipment they had could only go down 54metres.

The information dashed any hopes of the divers from South Africa reaching the boat to see if there were any more bodies trapped inside.

The Head of the Operation Colonel Joachim Zakaria said the divers informed them of the technical hitch, adding: “We have been informed by the head of divers from South Africa that he had communicated with his colleague on the possibility of bringing in a submarine and a special vessel for scanning the area of the accident but the process will be pending until June next year,” he said.

The scanning vessel has the capability to locate the area where the boat has sunk, making it easier to reach it by a submarine.

He was speaking to The Guardian yesterday aboard the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces Kasa boat which has docked between Tumbatu and Mwana Mwana Islands, to coordinate the diving operation which started on Tuesday, involving a group 22 divers from South Africa, TPDF and KMKM.

He said what they were doing currently was to go through the coastal areas of Tanga to Mombassa to establish if there were any more bodies and property which have been left out.

“Where the boat capsized is the route for marine vessels, thus it is the responsibility of the divers to clear it to avoid other accidents,” Colonel Zakaria said.

“What our colleagues are doing now in collaboration with Tanzanian divers is not to reach the sunken boat, but to ensure that the area is cleared,” said the Operations Assistant Colonel Joel Makunde.
A Commander of the South Africa Divers brigade Wyne Combrick said TPDF has asked them to remain for two weeks, to clear the area.

“The exercise is going on well although we have not managed to reach the capsized boat. We are proceeding with the work of ensuring the area surrounding the scene is cleared.

The MV Spice Islander capsized and sunk on Saturday on its way to Pemba from Dar es Salaam via Zanzibar.

According to the government report 202 people have so far been confirmed dead, while over 600 survived. Hundreds of people are still looking for missing relatives who were on the boat.

The death toll has risen slightly from 197 to 202 after five bodies were found along the shores of Mombasa in Kenya on Tuesday.

Magodoro, Milango ilisaidia Kuokoa maisha katika Ajali ya MV Spice Islander

Wadau, kwenye miaka ya 1980's kulikuwa na jali ya mashua Zanzibar. Magodoro yalisaidia kuokoa maisha ya watu katika ajali hiyo.

Lakini sheriza za bahari zinasema kuwa meli lazima iwe na Lifejackets na boti za kutosha abiria kwenye meli! Kwa vilie meli MV Spice Islander ilikuwa na watu wengi kuliko kiasi chake cha kubeba watu 600,  hazikutosha!  SERIKALI MKO WAPI HAPO?
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Kutoka IPPMEDIA.com
 Survivor: Mattresses, Doors Saved Our Lives

By Judica Tarimo

12th September 2011As the nation enters the second day of mourning the MV Spice Islanders tragedy, one of the survivors, Kassim Abdalah said yesterday that most passengers used mattresses and wooden doors to keep afloat.

According to the survivor, they started the journey at Zanzibar Port around 10.00 pm on Friday heading to Pemba.

“But even before we started the journey, most of us (passengers) were not comfortable with the condition of the ship…the vessel was tilting, something that worried many passengers, including me,” narrated Abdallah, a resident of Kisiwani Kojani.

He said a short distance from Nungwi Bay some passengers started sensing abnormal movements of the ship.

“It seemed as if the ship was sinking… fear and tension gripped most passengers on board,” he explained, adding: “The situation worsened when we arrived at Nungwi Bay after one of the ship’s engines stalled.”

Fearing for their lives, some passengers, especially women, started crying, with others asking the ship’s captain to assure them of their safety, after the engine ceased.

This forced the captain to make an announcement…urging passengers not to panic, saying the ship could still travel on one engine. “According to the captain we would arrive safely despite of the problem. Since we (passengers) are not experts, we believed him, and the journey continued,” he said.

They proceeded with the safari, but when they were some five kilometres from Nungwi Bay, the second engine ceased, shocking everybody and triggering more panic and outcries amongst passengers, as sea water started entering the ship.

“The ship had started to sink, slowly! Every passenger prayed to God for some miracles to save our lives. There was nothing we could do except to pray,” he explained.

“It reached a point when almost half of the ship was covered with water…it is at this point when many children and infants died, as adults, like me, struggled to save our lives,” said Abdallah.

The ship’s captain, assisted by five sailors, threw life buoys into the Ocean, and all of them jumped onto them and started helping other passengers out of the sinking ship onto the rescue facility.

“Unfortunately the rescue facility could not accommodate all passengers, because the carrier capacity of that facility was low compared to the number of people needing help,” the survivor explained.

“Fortunately as we desperately sought ways to save ourselves, we realized that, there were mattresses and wooden doors on top of the ship…they belonged to businesspeople plying between Pemba and Unguja.”

“So, one of us (passengers) threw the mattresses and the doors to the ocean which we used as rafters to rescue passengers. Honestly speaking, these mattresses and doors, saved lives of many more passengers,” he added.

Abdallah said while the rescue continue, a group of 40 passengers, including him had clung to the ship, in anticipation of assistance from relevant authorities and anybody else who might happen.

“No rescue came and the whole ship sunk, taking with it 25 passengers who probably died. I and 14 other passengers used mattresses and doors which were floating on the surface to remain afloat. We held onto the mattresses and doors, for hours---from around 1.00 am until morning,” he said.

While on the Ocean, waiting for help, he said: “We saw an airplane, afar. We raised our hands and water pipes—hoping it would spot us. Apparently noticing us, the plane circled above for a while…before flying away.”

“Not long after a boat come to our rescue. Before helping us out of the water, people on the boat spent sometime, taking our photos,” said Abdallah.

“After this the boat came close to where we were, picked us up and put all of us onto it…in short the mattresses and doors, saved my life and those of many other passengers, in the tragedy,” he concluded.

Serikali Haijui Nani Mmiliki wa MV Spice Islander

Makaburi yaliyochimbwa Zanzibar kwa ajali ya maiti ya waliofariki katika ajali ya meli MV Spice Islander. Picha imepigwa na Khalfan Said

Wadau, ni aibu kuwa serikali ya Zanzibar eti haijui nani mmiliki wa meli iliyozama pwani ya Zanzibar MV Spice Islander. Ina maana kuwa walikuwa hawalipi kodi? Nani alikuwa anawalipa wafanyakazi wa meli? Hela ya tiketi na mizigo ilikuwa inaenda wapi? Nani alilipa hiyo hongo ya 3M/- T.shs. ili meli iondoke bandari ya Zanzibar ikiwa imejaza kupindukia?

Kuna watu pale mamlaka ya bandari na serikalini wanaostahili kujiiuluzu! Miili yao imepakwa damu ya marehemu waliokufa katika ajali ya MV Spice Islander!

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Maritime Tragedy in East Africa


Zanzibar government denies knowledge of owners of sunken ferry


By Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN Uganda
Sep 12, 2011

(eTN) - In an extraordinary, though not unprecedented turn of events, the government of Zanzibar has reportedly denied having any knowledge of the registered owners of the MV Spice Islander. The Spice Islander is the ferry between Unguja - commonly referred to as Zanzibar - and Pemba, that capsized and sunk on September 10, 2011 with over 600 or 800 people on board - the number has yet to be determined - leaving scores of passengers dead in the water and others struggling to survive by clinging on to debris until they could be pulled out of the water by rescuers.

Registration and licensing of ocean going vessels, however, has been confirmed to be a function of government by tourism stakeholders, one of whom said this in an email overnight:

"This is not just unreal but almost mocking those seeking answers, those who lost relatives on the islands. How can a government claim not to be aware of the owners and it is the same government giving them a license.

"We are also disturbed about conflicting figures, some of which put the total passengers to over 800 and then government mouthpieces try to shrink these figures to within the licensed number. What is going on here?

"The tragedy was avoidable if only rules were enforced. There is notorious corruption across all outlets of public services, and they are now just trying to whitewash the whole thing.

"It is high time that government brings us new safe ferries, which can be used to travel from one island to the other without risking our lives every time one sets foot on board."

The central government in Dar es Salaam did, according to media reports, release 300 million Tanzania Ssillings to assist bereaved families with funeral expenses.

The official number of casualties was given by a Zanzibar government spokesperson as just under 200 with nearly 600 survivors, which would put the overall number of passengers on board well over the licensed figure permitted. There is also no certainty over the number of bodies not yet recovered, as apparently no complete passenger manifest was produced prior to the ferry leaving for its last ill-fated journey to Pemba.

Reconciling survivors and casualties is, therefore, literally impossible for the authorities in Zanzibar. It is understood that Kenyan authorities are now also keeping a watch along the shores from across the Pemba Channel, in case any bodies would be spotted across the international border.

A legal aid organization is planning to sue Zanzibar's government and others involved for negligence.



MV Spice Islander at the Zanzibar Port in 2009



Meli MV. Spice Islander Ulikuwa Mkweche/TakaTaka!

MV Spice Islander ikiwa Honduras kabla ya kufika Tanzania

MV Spice Islander ikijazwa mizigo katika bandari ya Dar au Zanzibar?

MV Spice Islander bandarini Zanzibar mwaka jana

Wadau, habari ya kuzama kwa meli MV Spice Islande imekuwa habari ya kimataifa. Inaelekea kuwa hiyo meli MV Spice Islander ilikuwa meli ambayo isingeruhusiwa kufanya kazi katika nchi za magharibi kutokana na ubovu wake. Meli iliundwa mwaka 1967 huko Ugiriki. Imefanya kazi katika nchi kadhaa na kuhribika mara kadhaa kabla ya kufika Tanzania. Ilikuwa na majina, Mariana, na Apostolos P kabla ya kuitwa Spice Islander I nchini Honduras. Hapa Tanzania, uchu wa pesa  na kujaza hiyo meli nzee kupindukia imesabisha meli iseme, mie basi tena, bora nizame kuliko niendelee!   Halafu cha kuchekesha zaidi eti serikali ya Zanzibar inasema kuwa hawajui nani anamiliki hiyo meli!   Kwa hiyo hela ya nauli, mizigo ilikuwa inaenda kwa nani? Mwenye meli alikuwa halipi kodi? Soma habari zifuatazo.

Mungu alaze roho za waliokufa mahala pema mbinguni. AMEN.

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"We have regularly featured disasters such as this, usually in the poorer regions of the world when vessels, often rejected by Western countries for reasons of safety, unreliability or age, are snapped up for use in areas unsuited to them. In this case it seems clear that safety measures regarding maintenance and load levels were simply ignored, presumably in the name of profit, leading to yet another avoidable tragedy. "

MV Spice Islander Debris Field off the coast of Zanzibar

Awful Tanzanian Vessel Death Toll Could Have Been Worse

TANZANIA – Once again we are witness to tragedy when the MV Spice Islander, a freight and passenger RoRo (roll on/roll off) ferry travelling between the offshore islands of Unguja and Pemba in the Zanzibar archipelago lost power whilst traversing the dangerous waters off the coast of Zanzibar. The strong currents in the area apparently caused the overloaded vessel to capsize and the current death toll stands at around 200.

The disaster however could have been much worse as reports state that the ferry was carrying a complement of in excess of 800 souls plus a quantity of cargo, her official capacity is reported as 645 plus 45 crew. The bodies, recovered from the water are being taken to a local football stadium, include many children. Some reports state that the vessel was listing before she embarked causing some passengers to leave her prior to departure from Unguja. There are no reported tourist deaths as yet, most prefer local speedboats to the slower ferry service.

We have regularly featured disasters such as this, usually in the poorer regions of the world when vessels, often rejected by Western countries for reasons of safety, unreliability or age, are snapped up for use in areas unsuited to them. In this case it seems clear that safety measures regarding maintenance and load levels were simply ignored, presumably in the name of profit, leading to yet another avoidable tragedy.

Spice Islander is a Ro-Ro ferry of 836 gross tonnes was built in Greece in 1967 as Marianna. She was renamed Apostolos P following a sale in 1988 before being sold to a Honduran company in 2007 and renamed. She had been in trouble before when, in 2007, she broke down off the Somali coast reportedly due to fuel contamination. On that occasion she was aided by a patrolling US naval vessel which resupplied her with fuel. Speaking earlier today, the UK’s Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham said:

“I was deeply saddened by news of the ferry disaster off Tanzania earlier today which claimed the lives of so many people. On behalf of the British Government, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to those affected and their families.

“When I visited Tanzania in May I was struck by how close the relationship is between our countries and the warmth and friendship of the Tanzanian people. At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the people of Tanzania as they come to terms with this terrible tragedy.”

SOURCE: http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/another-major-freight-and-passenger-roro-ferry-disaster_3063

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Kutoka IPPMedia.com

Death toll reaches 240, search continues


By Mwinyi Sadallah

12th September 2011
Zanzibar residents bury the body of one of the passenger who died after MV Spice Islanders capsized on Saturday. The burial ceremony took place in Kama area in the Isles, yesterday. (Photo: Khalfan Said)The death toll in the Zanzibar marine accident which involved MV Spice Islander boat yesterday rose to 240 people, as more bodies were pulled from the ocean.

The Zanzibar Police Commissioner Mussa Ali Mussa gave the figure here yesterday when briefing the Inspector General of Police Said Mwema on the accident who was accompanied by Tanzania People’s Defence Forces Chief General Davis Mwamunyange.

IGP Mwema said the government has decided to bring in rescuers from abroad to assist in the search for any more bodies trapped in the boat.

Zanzibar government said MV Spice Islander was overloaded before it capsized at Nungwi area in Zanzibar.

Speaking to journalists here yesterday Minister of State, Second Vice President Office Mohammed Aboud Mohammed said that the boat had the capacity of carrying 600 passengers and 500 tonnes of cargoes.

But according to the passenger’s manifest 610 passengers boarded the boat at Zanzibar port while 166 boarded at Dar es Salaam port including 65 children.

He said government has also decided to bury 39 people who were not identified.They were buried at Kama area in Unguja –West district.

He added that the government has also prepared 134 graves at Kama area which will be used to bury people who will not have been identified by their relatives.

He further explained that Maisara Disaster Centre which was established for relatives to identify bodies has been closed and other bodies which will be recovered will be buried immediately, noting that records will be kept for searching relatives.

The government will today hold a special prayer at Maisara grounds for the people who died in the accident and the victims. The prayers will be led by Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein.

He however said that the captain of the ill-fated ship Said Kinyenyeta was yet to be found, but a technician with the vessel Injima Mkune was being questioned by police.

Meanwhile, the National Social Security Fund (NSSSF) has donated 13m/- to help in the rescue mission—out of which, 10m/- would go to the government and 3m/- to support burial activities.

The financial assistance was presented by NSSF Senior Public Relations Officer, Juma Kintu, who said the social security scheme was touched by the impact of the incident on people’s lives.

Zanzibar social security fund has contributed 10m/- which was presented by fund’s public relations officers, Raya Hamdani, while the mobile phone company, TIGO donated food worth 5m/- to the victims.

Minister Aboud said the Union government gave 300million/- to support activities and operations related to the tragic marine accident.

Meanwhile the Director of Zanzibar Port Authority, Mustafa Aboud Jumbe distanced himself from blame, saying the authority was not responsible in overseeing marine transport services (passengers and cargo).

Speaking to our sister newspaper, Nipashe yesterday, Jumbe said “This is the duty of the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA), which was established by the law to oversee marine and surface transport sectors.”
Sumatra stopped operations in Zanzibar after Members of the House of Representatives claimed that the authority was operating illegally, as marine transport services was not on the list of Union matters.

Efforts to get director of Zanzibar marine transport, Vuai Haji, did not bear fruit, as his mobile phone was not answered.

In July, this year, Minister of Communications and Transport, Hamad Masoud presented a special report in the House of Representatives, defending marine transport facilities in Zanzibar, saying they did not pose any threat to the lives of travellers.

The minister was responding to the growing public concerns, after seven ships plying Zanzibar developed technical faults.