Has the government left Gongo la Mboto bomb victims at a cross road?

FAILURE by the government to give special attention to victims of the last year’s Gongo la Mboto bomb blast who have been demanding compensation payment of arrears for their destroyed properties as promised by the government, has left many victims at a cross road. Most victims wonders why the government does not quicken their payment as earlier promised and instead the process seems to be moving at a snail’s pace despite of their efforts of regularly reminding the authorities concerned over the issue since the incident happened 18 months ago. Their surprise about the matter has echoed when the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Said Meck Sadiki recently announced the compensation payment of their fellow Mbagala bomb blast victims who suffered the same fate in 2009. The announcement made by the RC required all Mbagala bomb victims who had been evaluated to come for the collection of their money which was already prepared in accordance to the report issued by the government’s Chief Evaluator. Investigations by this blog has discovered that, following the compensation payments made to Mbagala victims, other victims from Gongo la Mboto who seemed to have been angered by the move, have instead pressurized their demand by sending a letter to the respective authorities concerned. In their letter which they sent three weeks ago to the Prime Minister’s office, the department responsible for the disaster management, they have listed down their demands in order to enquire for the clarification and thereby get to know about their fate.

Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Mr. Said Meck Sadik

The letter a copy of which was given to the RC’s office have humbly requested for the payment of arrears in full settlement of the compensation for the damage caused on their properties as earlier evaluated by chief government evaluator. They have stated clearly that, have been treated unfairly with some demands not yet been fulfilled by the government despite the promise made ever since the occurrence of bomb blast disaster in their area 18 months ago. They have also stated in their letter that, there are some houses which had been deleted from the earlier list prepared and yet such houses deserve major repairs and if possible rebuild them. They are however surprised as this decision was made without their consent. According to them, the conditions of such houses shows that are supposed to be rebuild and their owners have since sought refuge to their neighbors and friends, and relatives for help since then. The houses belongs to three victims who have been listed in their letter as Esther Tarimo, Mohammed Said and Zaituni Chogelo. In their letter, the victims have also inquired from the government the fate of their plots on which their former houses stood claiming that why have they been ordered not to develop them. They have also claimed of some of their immovable properties such as water wells which some had already built. However, they are requesting the government to look at this critically bearing in mind the fact that those are some of the tangible properties found within their plots. Apart from their demands, they have also complained of receiving poor cooperation from the authorities concerned whenever contacted for clarification, and have accused them of being reluctant to directly responding to the issue which needs urgent solutions. Contacted for comments over the matter, an MP for Ukonga constituency, Eugene Mwaiposa said in a telephone interview as saying that, the government was working for the victims as it has set aside money for this year’s budget and that, she is at all time to ensure that, once the budget for the Prime Minister’s office is passed, then things will be alright. She dismissed claims that she was not following up the problems of her people within the constituency, and made some clarification when it was rumoured that she was not so cooperative enough when contacted for help by victims of the area. The RC said in a telephone interview early this week that, the department of the disaster management in Prime Minister’s office which coordinates the payments of the victims is awaiting for the budget to be approved by parliament. However, he said adding that for those who had their houses completely destroyed would be compensated with new houses whose construction he said is in final touches at Msongola village in Ilala district.