Dar es Salaam RC pledges to fix flood-prone Jangwani
The Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr Paul Makonda,(left), inspects damage at the Dart’s Jangwani bus deport in Dar es Salaam yesterday following incessant rains, which have been pounding the city since last week. PHOTO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dar es Salaam. The government is set to revamp Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit Agency (Dart) infrastructure at the latter’s main Jangwani bus depot, which is frequently disrupted by floods during the rainy season.
The Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr Paul Makonda, said such a plan was afoot under a Sh220bn World Bank funded city infrastructure improvement project underway.
When The Citizen asked Mr Makonda if the DART station and depot would be reconstructed, he replied: “Why are you interested in only the bus depot building? I cannot just talk about one small building If you don’t want to understand, just wait and see.”
“I’m talking about revamping the entire system at Jangwani but, you are just asking about one building, do you want to sleep in that building or what?” the RC queried.
Mr Makonda spoke as he toured Jangwani area yesterday to see the damage caused by recent floods in the city. Hundreds of families are sleeping in the cold, with an estimated 500 houses submerged. Several schools have also been closed to keep pupils safe from drowning which has claimed the lives of two children.
The rains have now subsided but the weatherman has warned more could still be coming. Roads infrastructure has been worst affected , with most feeder roads now nearly impassable.
Ilala District Commissioner Sofia Mjema who has toured worst affected areas in Ilala district told victims to decamp from water-clogged homes to avoid diseases.
Ms Mjema said it was in their interests to move away from the valley and find suitable settlements.
The DART executive director, Mr Ronald Lwakatare, said they previously proposed an alternative site. “Already, we have spotted Ubungo bus terminal, where we could construct a new depot although we are still trying to find other suitable places.”
In November 2017, Local Government minister Suleiman Jaffo told The Citizen that the government would use part of Sh660 billion Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Project (DMP) funds to improve Jangwani depot to avoid the damage of BRT buses owing to flooding.
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