Tanzania government receives Sh310 million in condolences for MV Nyerere disaster victims

Dar es Salaam. The government has received a total of Sh310 million from various individuals, institutions and companies in condolences to people who lost their family members in the sunken MV Nyerere tragedy.

MV Nyerere ferry, traveling between the Ukara and Bugolora Islets, capsized on Thursday at 13:48 hours about 50 metres from the berth as it was about to dock.

Until 8:00 AM on Monday, September 24, 2018, a total of 225 bodies had been recovered from the water.

The Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Mr Isack Kamwelwe told Ukara residents that so far well wishers have issued a total of Sh310 million in condolences.

“We received Sh100 million from the government immediately after the accident. The money has been spent on consoling families of those who died in the accident and in burial of some of the recovered bodies. Part of it is also being spent on taking care of survivors,” he said as he received Sh10 million from the ruling CCM’s secretary of ideology and publicity Humphrey Polepole.

Speaking to Ukara resident shortly, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa insisted that the money would be spent on consoling families of those who lost their lives in the accident and not otherwise.

“I repeat, the money being collected will be specifically spent on consoling families of those who died in the accident and not otherwise,” he said.

Speaking during the burial of some of the tragedy victims on Sunday, Mr Majaliwa said the government has opened an Account Numbered: 3111005726 at NMB Bank’s Kenyatta Branch for the purpose of collecting money in condolences.

The money will also be collected via Tigopesa Number: 0677030000 which registered in the name of RAS Mwanza.

Mr Majaliwa’s emphasis on how the money will be spent may have been particularly informed from what happened in 2016 when donations made for victims and survivors of the Kagera earthquake were spent for rehabilitation of infrastructure, a development that prompted a public uproar.

That forced the government, through the Prime Minister’s office, to issue a statement, saying the earthquake left a huge burden for infrastructure rehabilitation in Kagera, requiring a total of Sh104.9 billion, hence the need for help from other sources, including part of the condolence.