Hard time for some Gongo La Mboto bomb victims

A house that belongs to Juma Mohammed of Markaz area at Ukonga ward which was destroyed by bomb on 16th February 2011

IT is hard time for Juma Mohammed a resident of Markaz area, Ukonga ward in Ilala district, Dar es Salaam region one of the severely and most affected victims of the Gongo La Mboto bomb blasts whose house was completely destroyed. He is currently living in hardship following the tent on which he temporarily sought for refuge is currently leaking at this time of the occasional rains. The dilapidated tent on which he is still living in, is not in good condition due to physical weathering.  Speaking in an interview early this week, he said that, he is not happy with the life especially during risky time of night hours as the tent has become old an aspect that he doesn’t have a night rest and his children gets difficulties while doing some school home works and studying at night. He has been living in a tent now for 16 months since the bomb blasts incident occurred at  Gongo la Mboto Military camp (511 KJ) on 16^th of February 2011. According to him, the tent is damaged and water permeates from its roofing thus causing inconveniences while he is asleep with his family. He blames the government for not quickening the pace of construction of their houses it earlier promised to build as compensation for the victims, and instead the delays caused by the government makes his family to live uncomfortably.  Three weeks ago, the government through the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner’s office announced the development step it had taken so far as a promise it had issued of building houses for the Gongo La Mboto bomb blasts victims. The RC for Dar es Salaam region, Sadik Mecky Sadik said in Dar es Salaam that, the government is expected to hand over the newly built houses for the victims in early June. He said when placing the foundation stone for a total of 35 new houses to be built at Msongola village in Ilala district, about 40 kilometers away from the city.  The houses under construction would be finished in June and currently the technicians are putting the final touches on them as a sign of nearing their completion. Some 71 families were left homeless following the blasts that occurred at the KJ 511 military camp on February 16 this year, the incident also claimed lives of about 22 people and many others were injured. A spot check by this paper at the construction scene last week can reveal that, the possibility of handing over the houses as earlier promised by the government to be done in this June, is very little as very few houses have been built to the level of a rental, while others are still in the foundation stage. The early assessment of the houses which were completely destroyed during the disaster which was done by the government evaluator on compensation on 24 houses were placed in the list of those houses to be reconstructed and later found to be fit for rehabilitation. According to Sadik, the government formed a task force team responsible for he assessment to the claims of 168 and was handed over to the Chief government evaluator so that they might be paid little compensation to their claims. Despite of the government’s efforts to help the bomb victims, an unnonymous victim who was cornered by this writer said that, he was not happy with the area where their houses are being constructed, saying that the located area is so far and not yet developed. Commenting on the RC’s development report about their houses, he refuted his saying noting that the time frame for handing over of their houses is likely to take longer as the government keeps the pace of construction at a snail’s pace than what they had expected before, adding that there is a lot to be done on final touches. However, he has also noted that, unless the government should allocate close to their new settlements important social facilities such as dispensaries or health centres, electricity and water supplies to the area, an aspect which he commended would be more pleasing. Responding their claims, the RC has assured them of other social services such as the road infrastructure which would be constructed as soon as possible, and this he said would be ready before they immigrate to their new settlements. In order to accomplish this need, the Ilala Municipal Council Director, Gabriel Fuime has assured the victims that his municipal council will place culverts on the road leading to the area, the work which he has promised would be executed between his council workers who will be collaborating by the RC’s office.