Monday, July 30, 2012

Government bans Mwanahalisi newspaper

A prominent newspaper, Mwanahalisi has been banned indefinitely by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania. The newspaper will not be published with the effect from 30 July, 2012.

The acting director of Tanzania information services, Mr. Fabian Rugaimukamu said that the newspaper was banned for a trend of writing news and features that are inflammatory and fabricated.

“This aims at causing lack of faith to the state bodies by the citizens which endanger the peace and tranquility in the country.” He said.

He added that in its recent editions, Mwanahalisi newspaper edition No. 302 of 11 to 18 July, No. 303 of 18 to 24 July and No. 304 of 25 July to 01 August and the other previous editions have been publishing news and features that threaten the society.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Zanzibar deregisters 3 boats, suspends one


Zanzibar has deregistered three vessels and suspended one in a bid to tighten screws on the legislation and operation of marine transport 10 days after a fatal boat accident killed at least 116 people.
 The Acting Director for Zanzibar Maritime Transport Authority- Mr Abdallah Hussein Kombo , while addressing a press conference in the Isles said, “Mv Seagull, Mv Kalama, and Mv Sepideh have been de-registered and are not allowed to operate in Zanzibar territory, while Mv Kilimajaro III has been temporarily stopped due to expiry of life raft.”
 He said that his office is now working closely with Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) from Tanzania Mainland to inspect all vessels in Zanzibar so that only seaworthy ferries are allowed to operate.
 “Kilimanjaro III will resume services after improving its sea survival facilities,” he added.

 He said that Mv Seagull and Mv Kalama sister to the fatal Mv Skagit, and Mv Sepideh have been deleted from the list of Zanzibar sea vessels “because the boats are dilapidated and have had frequent breakdowns.”
 Kombo informed journalists that Mv Seregenti, which has also had repeatedly experienced mechanical faults in the sea, is still under investigation and that under the period of scrutiny the boat is “allowed to carry 350 passengers and 50 tonnes of cargo less its capacity of 800 passengers and 100 tonnes respectively.”

 He said that Azam Marine Transport Company is expected to import a big ship from Greece next month; the move is expected to ease transportation between Unguja (Zanzibar and Pemba currently facing sea transport problems.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Ghana’s President John Atta Mills dies



Ghanaian President John Atta Mills has died. He was 68.
President Atta Mills, who was suffering from throat cancer, died yesterday in Accra. A statement from his office said President Atta Mills died a few hours after being taken ill, but did not give details.

“It is with a heavy heart . . . that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the President of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement said.
Mr Atta Mills ruled the West African country since 2009. The BBC’s Sammy Darko, who was at the military hospital in Accra, says Mr Atta Mills’ voice had been degenerating in the last few months.
A presidential aide told Reuters yesterday that the leader had complained of suffering from pains on Monday evening and died yesterday afternoon.

According to the Ghanaian Constitution, Vice-President John Dramani Mahama is to take over as interim leader. Presidential elections are set for December in a country seen as a rare example of stable democracy in West Africa.

The late president had recently travelled to the United States for what had been described as a routine medical check-up.

President Atta Mills took over as Ghana’s president in January 2009.
He narrowly won the vote in 2008 by a less than 1 percent margin against a candidate from the party of incumbent John Kufuor, widely respected for having bowed out following his two terms in office. In July last year, President Atta Mills was nominated to be the ruling National Democratic Congress party’s presidential candidate for December 2012 elections.

The primary nomination represented the first time in the country’s history that a sitting president competed for his own party’s nomination.
President Atta Mills beat his only rival in the party primary, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, the wife of ex-military leader Jerry Rawlings.

Ghana recently joined the ranks of the world’s large-scale oil producers.

A Western-educated university professor specialising in taxation, President Atta Mills served as the country’s vice-president from 1996 to 2000.
He was the leftist National Democratic Congress nominee for the presidency on three occasions: in 2000, 2004 and 2008. — BBC-Reuters-AFP.

Zanzibar boat accident death toll soars to 94

THE death toll in last week's MV Skagit boat accident in Zanzibar yesterday reached 94, after 16 more bodies were recovered in different parts of Unguja Island and Bagamoyo in Coast Region.
Minister of State in Zanzibar Second Vice-President's Office, Mr Mohamed Aboud Mohamed, told journalists that 11 bodies were recovered along shores on Unguja and five were found in Bagamoyo.
“Bodies that were recovered along shores in Bagamoyo will be buried at the area,” the Minister explained.

Earlier the Zanzibar Police Force Spokesperson, Inspector Mohamed Mhina, said 11 the bodies that were recovered in Zanzibar were buried in one area in  the outskirts of Zanzibar town.
He said the burial was supervised by the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF), the Police Force, KMKM, Jeshi Kujenga Uchumi (JKU) and Volunteers.

“In Zanzibar the bodies were recovered at Pungume, Fumba, Chumbe Isles and along Funguyasini shore in Unguja,” Inspector Mhina explained.

Meanwhile,  individuals, firms and agencies have so far donated 320m/- to the disaster funds, Minister Mohamed said yesterday.

“Several people, private institutions, public institutions, and international organisations have sent condolences messages and funds to Zanzibaris. We thank them,” Mohammed said when briefing legislators about the sunken Mv Skagit last Wednesday killing at least 94 people.

The China Consular General in Zanzibar Ms Chin Limun has been among the latest people to convey condolence and donation to Zanzibaris as she promised that her country will continue supporting the
islands development.

Ms Chin and a representative from China Railway JiangChang Engineering Company Limited and Beijing Construction
Engineering Group, handed over 5m/-, each, to the second vice president Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi.

European Union (EU) Director for Africa and Caribbean Ms Fransisca Mosca also met Ambassador Iddi to convey her condolence, saying “EU is together with Zanzibaris at this time of grief.”

Source: The Daily News

Zanzibar forms team to probe Mv Skagit disaster

AS many people including legislators commend Mr Hamad Masoud Hamad for resigning from the post of Minister for Infrastructure and Communication, the Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein has tasked an investigation team, headed by High Court Judge Abdulhakim Ameir Issa, to probe the July 18, 2012 boat disaster which killed at least 78 people.

It is the same team which probed the Sept 10, 2011 ferry disaster which led to the loss of at least 203 lives while several are still missing.

The team consists of officials from the judiciary, defence/security service, and maritime corporations.
The ten-member probe team includes TPDF Navy commander Major General Said Shaaban Omar, Commander of the Zanzibar navy (KMKM) Hasan Mussa Mzee, Captain Abdallah Yussuf Jumbe, Captain Abdallah Juma Abdallah, and Advocate Salum Toufiq Ali.
 The other members are Captain Hatib Katandula, Ms Mkakili Fauster Ngowi, Mr Ali Omar Chengo, and Lawyer Shaaban Ramadhani Abdallaah, who becomes the secretary of the commission also in the team.

Meanwhile Shein yesterday sworn-in Mr Rashid Seif Suleiman as the new minister for Infrastructure and Communication.
CCM and CUF Officials concurred that the resignation was an indication of political maturity and development in democracy where leaders accept responsibility.
 “Hamad has shown political maturity. It is respect to him, his electorate, his party (CUF) and the Government of National Unity (GNU). Other ministers should learn from Hamad,” several lawmakers said in the House.
ENDS

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Zanzibar minister quits over boat disaster

ZANZIBAR President Ali Mohamed Shein yesterday accepted the resignation of the minister responsible for marine transportation, Mr Hamad Masoud Hamad, over the last Wednesday’s ferry boat accident that killed 78 people and left 66 still missing. About 290 were on board.
Mr Hamad, Minister for Infrastructure and Communication, tendered his resignation as an accountability measure. He had on Saturday told a news conference that he was not responsible for the accident although many people were blaming him.

 The Secretary of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Council (Cabinet), Dr Abdulhamid Yahya Mzee, said in a statement last night that a Member of the Zanzibar House of Representatives for Ziwani (CUF) replaces Mr Hamad, also from CUF.

 This is the first time in recent years that a minister is resigning as an accountability gesture.

 Mr Hamad’s resignation followed a stormy session in the House on Monday and last Friday over the ministry’s responsibility over the boat accident, 7 miles, south of Chumbe Islet, while on its way from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar.

Source: The Daily News 

Monday, July 23, 2012

Zanzibar boat accident death toll now 73

The Zanzibar boat accident death toll has risen to 73 following the discovery of five more bodies yesterday. It also coincided with people gathering in the Islands for  special prayers.

President Jakaya Kikwete and his Zanzibar counterpart Ali Mohamed Shein led hundreds of mourners including leaders and relatives of the victims of the last Wednesday at a special dua for the casualties, survivors and for grieving families.

The dua to remember those who died and injured in the MV Skagit accident was held at Mushawar Mosque, Mwembeshauri in Zanzibar, where the leaders and clerics asked for patience.

 “This is the time of grief, we need to show love to the victims and the dead by praying for them,” said Sheikh Omar Kabi, Mufti of Zanzibar.

 Other leaders who attended the prayer include: Dr Mohammed Kharib Bilal (union Vice President) Ambassador Seif Ali Idd (Zanzibar Second vice president), and Mr Amani Abeid Karume (retired Zanzibar President).

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Capsized Zanzibar boat’s manager arrested


The police are holding Seagull Manager Mr Omar Hassan Mnkahonje (50  in connection with the Zanzibar boat accident that claimed more than 60 lives.
MV Skagit that capsized near Chumbe Islet in Zanzibar on Wednesday afternoon.

The Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander, Suleiman Kova told journalists yesterday that Mr Mnkahonje’s explanation about the ill fated boat was the cause of the arrest and he will be assisting the police in the investigations.
“There are a number of issues that came to light in connection with ill-fated boat, and the police have arrested the manager of Seagull company owners of the capsized boat. And, he is going to assist with the investigations,” he explained.

Commander Kova said the investigation into the ill fated boat is being done in collaboration with the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) and other stakeholders.
Commander Kova also hinted that there were possibilities of overloading as the number of passengers is suspected to have been more than 300 listed in the boat’s manifesto.




Zanzibar boat accident death toll now 65

THE death toll of the Zanzibar boat disaster has risen to 65, while over 100 are still missing.

The Zanzibar Minister for Infrastructure and Communication, Mr Hamad Masoud,  during a joint press conference said, “This was purely an act of God and we can’t be blamed. Even meteorologists failed to detect the waves. Normally February and July are dangerous months to travel at sea and we have restricted transport during night.”

Masoud added that all unidentified bodies will be buried by the government and the State will meet all the costs.

 About 40 bodies have so far been identified and buried by relatives; other bodies would be buried by the government while efforts to identify a body of a person believed to be a foreigner continues.

Among the rescued people were foreigners from Netherlands: Paul Smeulders, Jaapuan der Hegder, Eline Van NistelRooj, Jua Maouche, and Inge Van Herugnen; Germany: Bernd van Rewnnings, and Bastian Van Rennings; Belgium: Joris Gielen, and Elvira Feyen; and from the US are Hilary Strasburger, and Lauren Dent.

In another development, the European Union (EU) is supporting the ongoing rescue operations in Zanzibar, the UK ambassador Diane Corner said in a statement, while the US ambassador Leahant Alfonso said that his country had donated medicines and other equipment.

Zanzibar boat accident a national disaster - Kikwete


President Jakaya Kikwete has sent a condolence message to the President of Zanzibar Dr Ali Mohamed Shein and all Tanzanians following a boat tragedy which hit Zanzibar on Wednesday.

According to a press statement availed by the Directorate of Presidential Communication (State House), President Kikwete was profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of life after the ferry capsized  about 14 nautical miles from the Port of Zanzibar while heading to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam.

He expressed his condolences to the revolutionary governments of Zanzibar and people of the United Republic of Tanzania and Zanzibar and the families of the victims, saying it was a national disaster.

“I stand together with the people of Zanzibar at this tragic moment, I express my deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families and friends, as well as to the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar,” the statement said.

 Kikwete also commended rescue teams for their efforts in rescuing people and recovering dead bodies. He also declared three days of mourning effective today with the national flag flying at half mast.
  

Holding on for dear life

Some of the survivors of the ill-fated MV Skagit wait for help while on top of the capsized and slowly sinking ship. 31 people have so far been confirmed dead while rescue operations continue.

Zanzibar boat accident: Tanzania declares three days of mourning

Tanzania has declared three days of mourning following a boat tragedy in Zanzibar yesterday.

The accident so far has claimed 31 lives while over 200 are still missing.

Relatives helplessly wait as rescuers salvage for survivors in Zanzibar

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Policy, Co-ordination and Parliamentary Affairs,
 Hon. William Lukuvi, announced in parliament this morning that the country will have three days of national mourning for all those affected by the accident
So far, 31 bodies have been retrieved, 38 rescued and over 200 are still missing in the Zanzibar boat accident.

The boat, MV Skagit capsized near Chumbe Islet in Zanzibar, 13.8 nautical miles from Zanzibar port yesterday  afternoon.

The boat which had 251 passengers plus 9 crew on board and was heading to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam.



 MV Skagit capsized after being hit by strong winds accompanied by heavy waves.
It is also alleged that a the boat was sailing at high speed and this might have contributed to its capsizing.







Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Zanzibar boat accident death toll rises to 31

Latest updates from Zanzibar reveal that 31 people have been confirmed dead. According to a journalist who attended the scene 13 of the discovered bodies had been identified and will be ready for burial tomorrow.
He also confirmed that according to eyewitnesses who are survivors of the accident, the boat capsized after it was hit by strong winds and they also blamed it on speed. 
They said the boat was sailing at high speed and this might have contributed to it capsizing.
Meanwhile, according to him, the rescuing operation has been stopped because the rescuers lack equipment that enables them to work in darkness.
He also said that among the 31 dead bodies, one is of a visitor while the rest are presumed to be Tanzanians.
The rescue operation will continue tomorrow though chances of finding survivors are diminishing.

Ill fated Zanzibar boat, MV Skagit’s fact file


The two boats MV Skagit and MV Kalama before they were bought by the Tanzanian company

The ill fated MV Skagit together with MV Kalama were Class ferries and high-speed passenger vessels built for Washington State Ferries (WSF) in 1989.

The Skagit and Kalama were the only ferries in this class. Both vessels were permanently docked after WSF was directed in 2006 to end its passenger-only service, and in 2011 they were sold and expected to be transported to Tanzania where they have been providing service between the mainland and Zanzibar.
 The m.v. SKAGIT was designed to carry a maximum of 230 passengers.  The passenger-only ferry and a sister, the KALAMA were constructed in 1989 at Halter Marine in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

The original design of the boats was based on vessels that serviced off-shore oil rigs in the Gulf OfMexico.  An extra deck of superstructure was added to accommodate additional passengers.  Theboxy design of the cabin decks and the low twin funnels on either side gave the ferries a rather ungainly appearance. 

 The SKAGIT went by the official number: D949140, call sign: WAA6309  and had a length of 112 feet, beam of 25 feet and a draft of  8 feet.   The pair were ordered for service on Puget Sound but were laid up on arrival when there were no funds available to operate them.  With the Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area, the twins were loaned to that city to ferry passengers while the Bay Bridge was temporarily closed.  After returning north, the 25 knot ferries entered service but met with complaints regarding erosion caused by their large wakes and their propensity to roll in the waves. 

They ultimately met with success when the route was transferred between Vashon Island and downtown Seattle.  Washington State Ferries decided to discontinue their passenger-only service after the summer of 2009 with the SKAGIT and KALAMA being declared surplus.  In an interesting move, the state tried unsuccessfully to sell them on eBay.  They were finally sold in 2011 and taken to Tanzania where they operated for the Seagull Company between the mainland and Zanzibar.

Two different leading news agencies have reported the ferry to be the m.v. SKAGIT/KALAMA, although it does appear that it is in fact the SKAGIT that is either ”mostly submerged” or fully sunk.
State of the boats

The state finally has sold two of its discarded passenger-only ferries, the Kalama and the Skagit, to the African nation Tanzania.

The ferries have been docked and inactive since September 2009. The Legislature ordered the state to get out of the passenger-only ferry business in '06.

The two ferries had been sold to a boat broker in Port Coquitlam, B.C., which sold them to Tanzania. They will be put in service between the mainland of Tanzania and the Zanzibar archipelago. They were sold for $400,000 combined, far below the $900,000 value the state said they were worth in December 2009.
 

Marta Coursey, spokeswoman for Washington State Ferries, said the two boats will be taken to Africa by cargo ship.

The state had hoped to sell the two 112-foot boats locally, but when that failed, it placed them for auction on eBay, asking $300,000 each, with no success. The ferries were built in New Orleans and purchased in 1989 for $5 million.

Ferry historian Steve Pickens said the Kalama and the Skagit were the first two passenger-only boats the state built. They were supposed to go into service in 1989 but were tied up because there was no money to run them. Following the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989, the two vessels were sent to San Francisco and served commuters crossing the bay while the city's bridges were repaired.

Chanzo:www.seattletimes.nwsource.com

Zanzibar Boat Accident: Rescue efforts hampered by bad weather

The rescue process of survivors of the ill fated MV Skagit that capsized this afternoon is being hampered by bad weather.

So far, 12 bodies have been retrieved, 38 rescued and over 200 are still missing in the Zanzibar boat accident.

The boat, Mv Skagit capsized near Chumbe Islet in Zanzibar, 13.8km from Zanzibar port this afternoon.

The boat which had 251 passengers plus 9 crew on board and was heading to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam.

MV Skagit capsized after being hit by strong winds accompanied by heavy waves.

Zanzibar’s Minister in the State, President’s Office, Dr Mwinyihaji Makame confirmed that 12 dead and 38 had been rescued so far.

The ship had carried 31 children and some tourists whose number had not been established so far.
Dr Mkame stated that rescue operations were going on and involving Mv Flying Horse, Mv Kilimanjaro III, Zanzibar Ports, Special Anti-Smuggling Force (KMKM), Mv Zanzibar I, police Patrol Boat and Navy.
 
A statement issued by Surface and Marine Transport (SUMATRA) Public Affairs Manager Mr David Mziray pointed out that the ship left Dar es Salaam around 12.5pm and issued alert signal few minutes later after reaching Chumbe Islet.

He also hinted that Mv Skagit was given certificate of standards on August 24, 2011 which was to expire on August 23, this year.

He further said that the ship was being owned by Seagul Transport company wand was registered by Zanzibar Marine Authority (ZMA).

It has capacity of carrying 300 passengers and 26 tonnes of cargo.

200 missing in Zanzibar boat accident

12 people have been confirmed dead, 18 have been rescued  while 200 are missing after a boat, Christianed Mv Skagit owned by Seagull company that was sailing from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar capsized in the Indian Ocean.

The boat is estimated to have been carrying over 250 passengers. The cause of the accident is still unknown but it is supected that the boat capsized due to strong winds.

The rescue operation continues.
Watch this space for more details

Uganda to recruit Tanzanian Swahili teachers

Arusha

Tanzanian Minister of Education and Vacation Training, Dr Shukuru Kawambwa said the country welcomed the suggestion of the neighbouring Uganda to import Swahili teachers from Tanzania and Kenya.

‘’I have not yet received any request on the matter from Uganda,’’ Dr Kawambwa told the East African News Agency (EANA) in a telephone interview over the week end.

But the Minister explained further; ‘’this is not a request because it is part of the East African Community (EAC) agreement on employment for the people within the EAC member states. Citizens in the region have equal rights to be employed in any of the five countries on the fields already agreed upon,’’.

EANA was making a follow up on recent press report in Uganda that it was expecting to import teachers from the two EAC member states whose 90 per cent of their citizens speak Kiswahili. The other EAC members are Rwanda and Burundi who are also making efforts to grasp the seemingly lingua franca for the region.

Dr Kawambwe elaborated that the criteria to get such an employment opportunity was that, the posts should be announced and people with the right qualifications in the region can apply like any other citizens in the country in question.


"We have plans to recruit Swahili language teachers so that they teach Swahili in primary and secondary schools in the country," Ugandan Minister of Education, Jessica Alupo was quoted as telling a press conference in Uganda last week.

The Minister further stated that "We are doing this in response to the need to integrate with other East African countries where Swahili is widely spoken."



The population of Uganda has less than 5 percent of people who could speak Swahili. 

It is believed the language was associated with brutality because former armies spoke it during violent campaigns against civilians.



Now that the countries are integrating politically, Uganda has seen a necessity to teach its nationals the language so that they can easily communicate with their neighbours.

According to Minister Alupo, the Ugandan government has realised that Swahili is one of the strongest components in the process of the East African Community Federation and integration and has finalised the policy to teach Swahili in primary schools starting in 2013.

 
Story by  Nicodemus Ikonko (East African News Agency)



Monday, July 16, 2012

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma first AU commission woman boss



The African Union last night chose South African Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as its leader, making her the first woman to hold the post.

Ms Dlamini-Zuma beat incumbent Jean Ping of Gabon after a closely fought contest for the chairmanship of the organisation.

In January, neither got the required two-thirds majority, leaving Mr Ping in office for another six months.

The dispute has overshadowed other issues, especially security and trade.

Voting had been broadly split along linguistic lines, with English-speaking countries tending to support Ms Dlamini-Zuma and French-speaking countries lining up behind Mr Ping.

Senior officials had warned that failure to resolve the leadership deadlock would divide the AU and undermine its credibility.

Ms Dlamini-Zuma, the former wife of South African President Jacob Zuma, won the leadership of the AU commission in a third round of voting.

She got 37 votes at the 54-member body, giving her the 60% majority she needed to be elected.

The 63-year-old is currently South Africa's home affairs minister, and has also had spells as minister of health and of foreign affairs.

She is one of her country's longest-serving ministers.

But critics said her candidacy had broken an unwritten tradition that the chairmanship should not be occupied by one of Africa's major nations.

Earlier this week, Mr Ping denied a South African media report speculating he was going to withdraw from the race.

His use of the AU's website and letterhead for his statement prompted the southern African regional bloc Sadc to accuse him of misusing AU resources for his re-election bid.

Ms Dlamini-Zuma's election came at a summit in Addis Ababa, the organisation's home city.

As in January, the official theme of the summit was boosting intra-African trade.



Sunday, July 15, 2012

A bumpy ride to Zimbabwe (1)

Travelling by road can be a nightmare and it is difficult for someone to be sure of arriving at his or her destination with the increase of road accidents. It remains true that uncertainty grips those who embark on long journeys as arriving in one piece is fast becoming a miracle.

Anxiety and fear of the unknown recently engulfed me as I embarked on such a long journey. I had to drive nearly 3,000 kilometres from Dar es Salaam to Harare on my way to rural Gutu to attend the funeral of one of my relatives. As regards to the nature of the visit, the urgency of the matter and after weighing all the options available, driving to Zimbabwe was the only tenable option.

The journey began around 5:30 pm in the evening despite concerns from friends and relatives on the dangers of driving during the night. Much of the concern was the Kitonga mountains range, where many people thought it wasn’t wise to drive through the escarpment at nightfall.

But time was not on our side and so we risked it. The journey started off smoothly and nothing out of this world happened until we came across the dreaded Kitonga Mountains. We had every reason to sigh a sign of relief as so many stories are told of how the place that is prone to accidents.

One problem, I believe that causes many people to perish like poisoned cockroaches on our roads is human error. Driving all the way at night was not as easy as I thought. On several occasions, I was bullied by heavy truck drivers, who are self imposed kings of the roads as their stubborn behaviour endangers the lives of other road users.

The truck drivers, in most cases don’t dim their lights and they refuse to give way to oncoming traffic as they drive their vehicles in the middle of the road. On several occasions, I was forced to swerve off the road to avoid a collision. Something should be done to address this anomaly if ever hopes of reducing accidents are to be upheld.

The state of the road from Dar es Salaam to Iringa is perfect. The recent rehabilitation of the road makes it easy for traffic to flow. The problem however arises soon after Iringa, where the road is pathetic. All hope, however, is not lost as that stretch is currently being rehabilitated and the exercise is slowing down traffic, as vehicles are forced onto detours where they take turns to pass.

After Mafinga, the road becomes user friendly up to Mbeya and Tunduma. We arrived at Tunduma border town the following day around 1:00 pm in the afternoon after driving throughout the night and a brief rest in Iringa.

The Tunduma border post was a hive of activity overcrowded with vehicles waiting to be cleared. Most of them had been driven all the way from the Dar es Salaam Port where they had been released on transit to other countries. We failed to get into the border area and had to park about a kilometre away while we were waiting for our turn to clear our vehicle and continue with the journey.

I believe something should be done to increase the speed of clearing vehicles on both Tanzania and Zambia sides of the border. The delay is an inconvenience to road users and business people. All the efforts by our clearing agencies to have our car jump the queue proved futile at first, though we succeeded later. After spending about four hours at the border, a breakthrough was realised and we were cleared.

It was around 5pm in the evening again when we resumed the journey on the Zambian side. We were only two, my wife and I and we had no choice but to take turns to drive. As we drove through Zambia, we were faced with another huge obstacle, the road itself. I had never driven on such a pathetic road.

The road from Tunduma to Mpika is a 400km stretch and is in a deplorable state. The Zambian government should do something because it is a major highway linking Tanzania to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Botswana and many other southern African states.

Vehicles imported from Japan to Zambia, DRC and Zimbabwe are driven through the road and many of these vehicles fail to reach their destination as a result of accidents. We witnessed the highest number of accidents along this stretch. I remember we came across not less than 15 accidents involving haulage trucks.

The road is full of potholes some too deep for comfort and vehicles have to negotiate their way at snail speed. These first four hundred kilometers were a nightmare for me as I was the one driving at that moment. Though I managed to pass through the area without any eventuality, I believe it was by the grace of God rather than my driving skills.

Instead of sleeping so that she can relieve me when tired, my wife turned into assistant driver or should I say pothole navigator, where she had to look so keenly onto the road and alert me when she spotted potholes that she thought I would miss.

It was a nasty experience that should not be repeated. The technique worked as we managed to go through the pothole infested area without plunging into one or deflating our tyres.

What surprised me, however, is that buses and some haulage trucks were flying over these potholes, bullying the drivers of smaller vehicles.

Another shocking thing is that Zambian drivers travelling at high speed and that left us wondering how they went past the potholes. I almost believed that the vehicle that I was driving was inferior as I could not drive it past the potholes comfortably.

But this came with a price as we had to stop to try and help some of the other drivers whose tyres would have been deflated or burst by potholes.

A journey that was supposed to take less than four hours ended up being completed in eight to 10 hours. The Zambian government should do something to improve the road as it is a major high way used by many land locked countries.

When the sun rose the following morning, we approached Kapiri Mposhi, just about 200 km from Lusaka, the Zambian capital. There wasn’t any major incident on the way as the road was better. The only problem was at Chirundu border post where we also had to clear the vehicle. And then we finally we entered Zimbabwe.