Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Monday December 04,2023

63 confirmed dead following mudslides in Hanang, Tanzania. More are still missing

The death toll in Hanang Tanzania has increased to 63 people, this include 40 women and 23 men, 18 of them are children. This was confirmed yesterday by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa during the funeral ceremony.

The devastating tragedy has left thousands in Hanang without home and other basic needs. Report  by the Director of Presidential Communication shows that about 1,150 households are affected by the floods and mudslides, this includes about 5,600 people from Jorodom, Ganana, Katesh, Dumbeta, Gendabi, Sarijandu, Arukushay and Sebasi villages.

Government has also committed to cover the funeral costs as well as medical bill of all the injured persons. President Samia is expected to cut short her participation in the COP28 summit.

Several people are still confirmed missing, meaning death toll is likely going to rise as recovery continues.

Fire destroys 25 shops in Mwenge Dar es Salaam

Fire has engulfed about 25 shops in Mwenge, a famous spot for retail traders Dar es Salaam.

Fire and rescue service was able to contain the damage of the fire limiting them to one location but nothing in the buildings were spared.

“No one was injured, but everything inside the shops were damaged,” said Peter Mtui, Head of Fire and Rescue service in Kinondoni who explained that 24 shops and an administration building catering for the shops was damaged in the fire.

“We found that the fire has already spread out, meaning the information did not came to us on time,” explained Mtui who attended fire extinguishing services at around 12:30am.

In his latest report, the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) shows that the Fire and Rescue Force lacks 99.4 percent of the water points required for its fire engines and also lack 91 per cent of the fire and rescue equipment needed.

The poor state of the fire and rescue services has been attributed to their poor performance in dealing with several cases in Tanzania.

Prime Minister quashes rumors about the Vice President whereabouts: “He is on official duties outside the country”

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has debunked ongoing rumors on social media that Vice President Philip Mpango is bedridden outside the country.

“Ignore the rumours on the web, Vice President Phillip Mpango is on official duties outside the country,” said Majaliwa during the commemoration event of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which were held on December 02,2023.

For several weeks now there has been rumours about the whereabouts of the Vice President who was last seen in public on October 28,2023.

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