Tanzanians Fault Government Over Plane Disaster
Tanzania’s government is being criticised for its lack of disaster preparedness just two days after 19 people died in a passenger aircraft accident.
Tanzania’s leading newspapers are demanding accountability for the failures in emergency response in the aftermath of the Precision Air plane crash into Lake Victoria near the Bukoba airport on Sunday.
The Citizen newspaper said the disaster had exposed government failure.
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Aviation experts, activists, and social media users have also criticised the government for not taking responsibility for its failure to adequately handle disasters.
“I hope the authorities have seen what happened. If we couldn’t conduct an effective rescue mission in a small aircraft like that one, what would we do if it were a much bigger plane?” Captain Khalil Iqbal, the secretary-general of the Professional Association of Tanzania Pilots, told local media.
Disaster expert James Mbatia, who is also a former MP, told the BBC that “it was possible to rescue all passengers, but it is surprising that the scene was full of fishermen and there were no disaster vessels”.
“This is a shame.”
“We have the same technology, that was used in 1996… which brings lots of questions,” Mr Mbatia said.
On social media, some say accountability should be part of Tanzanian culture and people should be held responsible for the plane accident and the inadequate rescue operations.
Tanzania’s Defence Minister Innocent Bashungwa has said the government will address the concerns raised to improve rescue operation systems and better handle disasters.
“Whatever situation we are in, good or bad, it provides an opportunity to learn and in this tragedy of the plane crash, we have heard people’s opinions on how we need to organise ourselves better,” he said.
He added that the government would review the budget set aside for disasters and ensure the availability of proper rescue equipment.
Meanwhile, a video showing a crane retrieving the crashed aircraft from the lake has been shared online:
VIDEO: Ndege ya Precision iliyopata ajali Bukoba juzi imetolewa kwenye maji hii leo huku timu ya Wataalamu ikiendelea na uchunguzi, Mamlaka ya Anga imetangaza kuufungua uwanja wa ndege wa Bukoba muda mfupi ujao ili uendelee na oparesheni zake kama kawaida. #MillardAyoUPDATES pic.twitter.com/05pZko4SRr
— millardayo (@millardayo) November 8, 2022