Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania over the weekend.
Grief as nineteen perishes in Bukoba plane crash
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced Sunday that at least 19 people had been confirmed dead following a plane accident involving flight PW-494, property of Precision Air, which crashed at Lake Victoria in Bukoba.
The aircraft, 5H-PWF, ATR42-500, was flying from Dar es Salaam to Bukoba when the accident occurred around 08:53 am. According to a statement by Precision Air released on Sunday, there were 39 passengers (38 adults and one infant) and four crew on board the crew.
Rescue efforts were underway throughout Sunday where people around Lake Victoria were seen taking part in an operation to pull the aircraft ashore.
While Tanzanians in general sent their condolences to the grieving families, some criticised the infrastructure put in place by the government to save people’s lives in cases of a disaster such as this one occurs.
Speaking in Bukoba late Sunday, Mr Majaliwa said that an investigation into the accident has been ordered.
“All Tanzanians join you in mourning these 19 people … who have lost their lives,” Majaliwa told reporters in the northwestern city of Bukoba, where the plane was approaching the airport before it plunged into the water.
In a statement, Precision Air extended its “deepest sympathies” to the families and friends of the passenger and crew involved in the “tragic accident.”
“The company will strive to provide them with information and whatever assistance they will require in this difficult time,” the company said in a statement.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan called for calm during the rescue operation.
“I have received with sadness the news of the accident involving Precision Air’s plane,” the Head of State said in a Twitter post. “Let’s be calm at this moment when rescuers are continuing with the rescue mission while praying to God to help us.”
Bunge wants govt to implement CAG’s recommendation
The parliament on Saturday agreed to a total of 38 resolutions that the government must now work on in implementing recommendations made in the 2020/21 Controller and Auditor General (CAG)’s report.
Lawmakers think if the government does implement CAG’s recommendation that would address the loss of public funds, increase revenues and bring efficiency to government institutions.
The parliament unanimously agreed to the resolutions after a four-day debate on three reports of the Parliamentary committees on Public Accounts (PAC), Public Investments (PIC) and Local Authorities Accounts (LAAC) over the CAG report.
“The government has to bring a report to the CAG by February next year over the implementation of the Parliament’s resolutions,” Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson directed. “I would want to see that when we meet next year we see steps have been taken in implementing these resolutions.”
The Parliament endorsed 14 resolutions from PAC, 11 resolutions from LAAC and the remaining 13 resolutions from the PIC.
When presenting the resolutions, PAC Deputy Chairperson Japhet Hasunga said the government should do a comprehensive tax regime review to enable the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to collect more revenues and meet its collection targets.
On his part, LAAC Deputy Chairperson Stanslaus Mabula said the disciplinary bodies should take measures against directors of district councils who failed to effectively supervise the issuance of loans to special groups (women, youths and people with disabilities) in their respective areas.
He further said that all councils that wish to make investments should have a business plan before investing and the government should have investment guidelines for councils so that they engage in profitable ventures.
“The government should ensure that the new system of revenue collection starts being used in all councils during the next financial year in a bid to up collections in the councils,” Mr Mabula stated.
This is it for today and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter (see below) or following us on Twitter (here) or joining us on Telegram (here). And in case you have any questions or comments, please consider dropping a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
