Farmers flee to Mozambique to escape floods

Tandahimba. About 70 Tanzanian farmers had to be evacuated to the neighbouring country of Mozambique after being besieged by floods from the overflowing Ruvu River.

The evacuation happened on the eve of last Sunday at Michenjele Ward in Tandahimba District after downpour, forcing them to seek for help.

Mr Michenjele Ward executive officer Hassani Gululi said the incident occurred on Saturday night as until Monday about 70 people were rescued to Mozambique while 232 others were ferried to Tanzania, but some refused to be rescued and instead remained in the flooding water.

“Until today, 232 people were ferried to Tanzania and 70 others were taken to Mozambique with the hope of going back to their farms after the floods have rescinded, bur few fishermen, refused to be rescued and remained in flooding water, however no death was reported,” Gululi said.

He said it has been normal for Tanzanians to engage in agricultural activities in Mozambique by crossing Ruvu river . “The issue of crossing the river is normal as most of them depend on agriculture and fishing for earning a living, those who love fishing cross the border into Mozambique,” Galuli said.

Tandahimba MP Katani Katani said he received the report about the affected people on the eve of last Sunday and that is when he appealed for rescue measures.

“Someone phoned me on the eve of Sunday, telling me that there were some people trapped near the river after being besieged by flooding water and I ordered those owning boats to quickly go and rescue them as they normally engage in farming activities in valleys,” Katani said.

“I would advise people engaging in farming along valleys to take precautions and I would also like to thank those who took their time to rescue our fellows because we would have been in grief now,” Katani said.

One of the victims, Binti Hassan, said her life had been depending on valley agriculture, but now she had nothing to do as the situation had changed contrary to previous years.

“The rains are now heavy and my life depends on valley agriculture, but now the river has burst its banks,” Binti Hassan said.

Hamad Mussa, another victim, said, “We were asleep at night, but all of a sudden we saw flooding water that subdued us, we thank God we were rescued because even our stored food had already submerged due to heavy rains,” Mussa said.