We’re we still way behind on public transport safety, why?

And this very understandably so, considering that the main factors behind such incidents have been scientifically studied and identified for as long as one can remember.

Things are much similar with respect to the major ways of forestalling them or reducing their prevalence considerably, as well as mitigating the harm they cause.

It is cause for great concern, particularly seeing that there is no shortage of experience in witnessing and handling these incidents but it often as if we are always “beginners” as we deal with them whenever and wherever they occur.

There have been appallingly so many such tragic incidents that some people have decided that it is no longer correct or realistic to refer to them as accidents, arguing instead that quite a few of them are “accidents” only in name but are in fact all but due to gross irresponsibility or recklessness.

Observers cite many ready examples of what this points to, one of the most recent being the tragedy in which at least 12 people were confirmed dead in a boat accident that occurred in the Tanzanian zone of the Indian Ocean a few years ago.

The innocent lives were lost when the ill-fated boat, heading to Pemba Island from Tanga on the Mainland, overturned and sank with some 40 passengers on board.

Sources said that were it not for the fishermen who were going about their business nearby, the 28 or so who survived would not have lived to tell the tale.

Police were later to report that the dead included five children from one family. To their family and loved ones, it was obviously untold pain – and to the nation, loss of invaluable human resources.

The Zanzibar Maritime Transport Authority was quoted as having said that the Zanzibar-registered vessel was meant to carry only cargo – and strictly no passengers.

Furthermore, the boat reportedly had a capacity to carry only 15.68 tonnes of cargo, but ZMTA said it carried passengers – and these without completely without safety gear as required by the law.

As if this was not criminal and risky enough, according to the Isles’ regulatory body, the particular vessel had a consignment of foodstuffs, beer, chicken feed and various other items on board

But the ill-fated ‘MV Burudan was not the first marine vessel to suffer such tragedy within Tanzania’s water bodies.

It will be recalled that at least 19 people drowned sometime in 2011 after two overloaded boats capsized and were swept away in the high seas off the Indian Ocean coast near Jambe Island – the same site where the MV Burudan incident was reported to have occurred.

But perhaps what the world in general and Tanzania in particular will remember the most about marine disasters in the country is the May 1996 sinking of MV Bukoba in Lake Victoria, just metres off Mwanza city, in which at least 894 people were buried alive.

There are however numerous other tragic incidents in which people die but which do not grab headlines merely because they are regarded as inconsequential. Yet, the fact is that not even a single life or limb should be lost in avoidable “accidents”.

Much like in the case of MV Burudan, lives were lost in the MV Bukoba tragedy primarily owing to brazen disregard for safety regulations.

For instance, the manifest for MV Bukoba’s final voyage from Bukoba to Mwanza talked of 443 passengers in the first and second class cabins, while the cheapest (third class) accommodation was without a manifest.

Our country is rich in water bodies, most supporting invaluable social and economic activities, and therefore we need to place due premium on marine transport safety.

No marine vessel carrying passengers should be in business without observing basic safety requirements such as having life jackets, life belts, lifeboats, distress signals and firefighting gear.

Having appropriate equipment is important, while ensuring that they undergo regular checks and are in usable state is as crucial.

Also, all those expected or supposed to use the equipment must actually be able to operate them, with the vessels themselves being regularly repaired.

Also of paramount importance is the quality of the captains and other crew members and support staff. If we are indeed to protect the lives of our people, then we should NEVER have fishermen or wannabe seamen ferrying passengers.

What we have said with regard to the operations of marine vessels applies equally to all other forms of public transport. This is because the prevalence of tragic incidents involving, say, public buses is much higher and of much greater impact.