Of Dar bomb blasts and Mbagala lesson that never was

“Horrific,” may be the best word to describe the bomb blasts that rocked Gongo la Mboto, bringing Dar es Salaam to a stand still, last week. Confusion reigned supreme as each and everyone ran for dear life. I happened to be near the area where this occurred and what I saw there was not only disheartening, to say the least, but also heart-rending.

What I saw there quickly reminded me of some scenes in the film Hotel Rwanda that chronicled the 1994 Rwandan genocide where an estimated 850 000 people were massacred along tribal lines. Never had I imagined that I was going to witness such a scenario in a war free country. The situation depicted a battle ground where the general public will be running away from war zones.

The only difference was that no one was launching and throwing bombs on them but the free drama was there thanks to “accidental discharge” at one of the armories at TPDF camp in Gongo la Mboto. The other difference was that even the soldiers themselves were taken aback with the happenings as they were probably caught unawares and dashed for dear life.

Explosion after explosion was the order of the day, women could be heard screaming, children crying uncontrollably as the unusual had happened. Some people fainted in face of death and were at the mercy of others who pulled them to safety. Don't ask me how I survived dear reader because I also don't know the reason I am alive today. What I know is that it was only God who saved me from the jaws of death. To those who lost their lives, may their souls Rest In Peace.

It was a sorry state of affairs as some people could be seen running away bare-footed as they had missed the opportunity to look for either shoes or sandals to put on. Some women could be seen carrying small babies, without anything to cover them as they had also left their houses in a hurry. Some left doors to their houses open and within the confusion, thieves took advantage of the situation. In fact, they had a field day as they ransacked people's deserted houses looting what ever they could.

I never thought people might for a short period become refugees in their own peaceful country, but what I saw left me convinced that it was possible. To make matters worse, people had to desert their houses for many days despite assurances by the police that the area was now safe. They had suffered emotionally and as we speak, they continue living in fear and they know that a repeat of what happened will be disastrous for them.

And, I wondered as to why hardly two years after a similar event rocked this city when Mbagala residents went through the same experience, innocent lives are lost in something that could be prevented.

When the Mbagala bombs blasted the area, leaving a trail of destruction, people quickly rushed to point fingers at the government who in turn accepted responsibility and compensated the victims. But, what boggles one's mind is that once something bad occurs, people usually tend to draw lessons from it and try by all means to prevent it from happening again.

I know that these are mere accidents as there is no one in his right sense of mind could go and trigger the bombs. But, if we were in Iraq maybe it was going to be possible as we have a lot of suicide bombers claiming dozens of lives on a daily basis. Though every mwananchi understands that these are accidents, they are difficult to stomach as they not only leave a trail of destruction but claim innocent lives.

When the Mbagala blasts disturbed our peace in this city, I wondered why these army bases were located near residential areas. But upon visiting history, I discovered that most of these camps were located far away from residential areas, but, the expansion of the city, with the ever increasing demand for residential space, residential areas ended up “swallowing” these army camps.

Besides having residential areas expanding, the uses of these camps never changed as they continued to store these lethal weapons. And, I think this gave ammunition to the army to stand by their decision that they will not relocate these military camps.

When the horrific Mbagala bomb blasts caused untold suffering among innocent civilians, the powers that be promised us that they will make sure that the blasts were NEVER going to occur again. But, hardly the dust from the Mbagala blasts had settled as some people are still trying to reconstruct their houses while others are still being reminded by different deformities and scars on different limps of their bodies, a similar disaster strikes.

This has seen some people baying for their (the leaders) blood, calling upon them to tender their resignation letters or else they should be fired. We thought the Mbagala disaster was a lesson enough and measures had been taken to prevent history repeating itself. But, it seems that Mbagala was a lesson that never was as no one seems to have learnt something from it. The Gongo la Mboto disaster should note have occurred if the powers that be had taken heed of wananchi's contributions.

I even remember giving suggestions on this fora where a lot of suggestions were highlighted. Yes, everyone knows that relocating all camps that are near residential areas is costly so it won't be a problem if they remain where they are, but all explosives should be removed from such camps. Armories of such camps should be stocked with light weaponry and ammunition not ballistic missiles or artillery shells or any bombs of any sort.

We are sick and tired of innocent people losing their lives unnecessarily and as long as the powers that be continue turning a deaf ear on wananchi's concerns, such disasters will be here to stay and all those people living near army camps will undoubtedly have every reason to live in fear. This is so because Dar is generally hot and this, in most cases, ends up triggering some bombs into explosion. And, as long as these missiles and bombs continue being stored in camps surrounded by residential areas, then we should brace ourselves for more disasters.

If the people concerned failed to learn something from the Mbagala incident, I believe they have a lot to learn from the Gongo la Mboto disaster. Jamani take action before more disastrous blasts paralyse us. What will we lose from relocating those bombs to a camp situated far from residential areas?

To those who lost their lives, may their souls Rest In Peace and to those who are injured and are recovering from the incident we wish you a quick recovery. May God bless Tanzania and take care of us.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz/ 0657651300