By Bernard Lugongo, The Citizen Reporters
Dar es Salaam. Speaker of the National Assembly Anne Makinda has described the death of Chadema MP Regia Mtema as  a big loss for the legislative organ.Ms Regia died on Saturday in an accident at Ruvu area in Coast Region, when the vehicle she was driving veered off the road while  trying to avoid a head-on collision.

Six other occupants of the vehicle were injured and one of them is still undergoing treatment at Muhimbili National Hospital.

Addressing mourners assembled at the home of Regia’s parents   at Tabata Chang’ombe yesterday, Ms Makinda praised the deceased  as a first-time legislator, but  a fast learner.

The Speaker noted, too, that, Ms Regia discharged her parliamentary duties effectively and was  receptive to criticism – attributes she said earned her many friends and much respect within and beyond  parliament.

A number of top government leaders,  including President Jakaya Kikwete,  called at the home to console the family for the loss.

President Kikwete arrived there  at around 1pm, shortly after Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda  had done so, and both left after about half an hour later.

The chairman of the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Mr Freeman Mbowe, was on hand to welcome the government dignitaries and officials from  various political parties.

Addressing reporters, Ms Makinda said  the Bunge office would coordinate  with the family on Ms Regia’s funeral.
Outlining the schedule of the funeral, she said special prayers and last respects for the deceased by relatives and friends would be held at the Segerea Catholic Church beginning 3pm today.

Tomorrow morning, government officials and Members of Parliament will pay their last respects to  the former legislator at  Karimjee grounds. Thereafter, the body will be  transported to Ifakara in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region,  for burial scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a meeting by Chadema  held yesterday resolved that all the party’s MPs would accompany the body of their departed colleague to Ifakara. Chadema’s Director for Information and Publicity, Mr John Mnyika,  said the loss occasioned by Ms Regia’s  death was deepened by the fact that  she was a member of the party’s National  Executive Committee.

Reports from Kilombero say  the  death has  deeply shocked many residents there, who  found it very difficult to come to terms with the news on the tragedy, when it spread on Saturday.

Ms Regia’s death  has been the talk of town since then. Chadema leaders ordered all branches in the district to lower their flags to half mast as a gesture of honouring their departed leader.

The minister for Health and Social Welfare Dr Hadji Mponda, acting Kilombero district Commissioner Francis Miti,  the MP for Kilombero Mr Abdu Mteketa (CCM), chairman of  CCM in Kilombero District, Mr Abdallah Kambangwa and other leaders have arrived at the home of the deceased to take part in burial preparations.

Some residents who spoke to The Citizen expressed shock and sorrow over the death of the young MP, whose services they said they still needed.

Minister Mponda said he knew the deceased for her diligence. For his part, Mr Mteketa saluted the deceased as a very cooperative  and cordial person, in spite of  their ideological differences.

Mr Mteketa defeated Ms Regia during the last General Election for the Kilomero Parliamentary constituency seat.
“I drew a lot of inspiration from her, because she often challenged me to fulfil  the pledges I made at campaign rallies,” he said.

The chairman of the Kilombero District Council, Mr Ramadhani Kiombile,  Regia’s  death had left a huge gap in the district because she was active in volunteering advise on how the district could be uplifted economically.

When she got  the accident, Ms Regia  was driving towards Chalinze in  the company of Bernadeta Mtema, 45, the late MP’s mother and relatives Rodgers Abdallah, 18, a resident of Mbezi Makabe in Dar es Salaam, Teresia Simon, 22, Laurence Mtokamba, 58, Paulina Changa, 19, Peter Beresane,  all residents of Tabata in Dar es Salaam.

The late MP got her primary education at Mchikichini in Dar es Salaam, secondary education at Forodhani before joining Machame Girls for A levels. She graduated with  a B.Sc  in Home Economics and Nutrition at the Sokione University of Agriculture in 2006.

She was Chadema principal training officer and youth leader between 2007 and 2010 and was elected member of the National Executive  committee in 2009.
 
Additional reporting by Venance George (Morogoro)

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