Leave wetland to avoid disaster, Musoma residents told

The call was made here yesterday by Mara Regional Commissioner Said Mtanda who said people who reside within the area live in a restricted area hence risk their lives by exposing themselves to natural disasters.

Musoma District Commissioner Dr Halfan Haule said the permanent solution to the matter is to ensure that all those who constructed houses there move to safe places.

“We are continuing with efforts to clear water drainage systems, we are set to construct a huge drainage system which will carry water to the Kitaji dam but also ensure that we move people from the area,” he said.

Mohammed Atanga, Acting Manager for the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) in Musoma District said efforts are underway to clear drainage systems, calling upon residents to take care of the drainage systems by not littering them.

Meanwhile, residents of Kitaji Ward whose houses are surrounded by water have refused to move out of those areas, arguing that they do not have elevated places to go to nor do they have the ability to buy land and build new houses.

The residents said that despite being in a dangerous environment, they have no option but to continue living in the flooded houses despite the risks.

“Water is still in all my rooms despite the fact that in these three days water has receded; all our belongings are under water and properties surrounded by the same,” said Zubeda Khasim, a resident of Kitagi.

Golden Charles, Kitaji Ward Councillor, said that the effort to move people from the areas is difficult due to their economic situation because everyone who is told to move has claimed to have nowhere to go.