Microfinance cancels debts for Hanang mudslide victims

In the move, five other people have been forgiven their debt repayment schedule for three months from January to Mach this year.

Speaking when handing over a dummy cheque to the business people, Hanang District Commissioner Janeth Mayanja said the mudslides affected various people.

She commended Vision Fund and Metro Life Assurance for siding with the people of Hanang during an important time like this.

“A total of 11 business people have been affected by the mudslides in which six have completely forgiven their debts while five have been forgiven returns for three months,” she said.

Director for Vision Fund Chilala Hakoom said the aim of their services include helping the society, improve the lives of children through social services.

He said the financial institution was aware of the hardships that people in the area were going through to repay the loans, saying the debt cancellation was timely.

Director for Metro Life Assurance Amani Boma said they decided to involve themselves in the matter because they also deal with disaster management.

“It is important to collaborate with the government on issues related to disaster management, therefore Tanzanians must access insurance to help them during times like this,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries of the amnesty from Katesh Fura Massawe hailed Vision Fund for identifying the challenges that they faced during the mudslides.

More than 80 people died and thousands other households displaced as mudslide swept through Katesh township in Hanang District in Manyara Region following an overnight heavy rain in December last year.

The torrential rain was also reported to have caused a slice of Mount Hanang to collapse, with the raging mud covering homes and anything that stood its way.