By Frank Aman
The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. The government has been advised to form new disaster management systems, including establishment of an autonomous unit that will recruit staff, provide equipment and funds to respond to disasters that happen in the country.

The call was made yesterday at Mabwepande area in Kinondoni District by the secretary general of the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS), Mr Adam Kimbisa, when he toured the area and to discuss services provided by his society since the flood disaster hit Dar es Salaam City early this year.

He said that although the government’s disaster management department under the Prime Minister’s Office exists, it also needs a system to provide facilities to enable its workers to respond to disasters.

“The government should build the capacity of the department so that it can be able to respond to disasters instead of depending on other stakeholders and humanitarian institutions to participate in rescue activities,” he said.

Mr Kimbisa added that the government should also legislate laws that bar people from building houses in valleys. However, Mr Kimbisa urged Tanzanians to develop the spirit of volunteerism when disasters strike.

“Nowadays Tanzanians do not have that spirit. They don’t dedicate their lives to helping others in trouble. The Red Cross should improve training of volunteers and communities at in disaster preparedness and management,” he said.

TRCS has been working together with other humanitarian institution to help flood victims who were camped in different areas in the city.

Up to now TRCS have spent about Sh211, 804,000 million in providing relief aid to flood victims especially in setting up of tents at Mabwepande area.

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