ABDULWAKIL SAIBOKO & JIANG ALIPO, 30th April 2009 @ 00:00, Total Comments: 10, Hits: 2103
A Series of bombs exploded at the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) base at Mbagala in Dar es Salaam yesterday afternoon, leaving at least three people dead and over 150 others injured. The blasts which rocked the city and its environs from more than a hundred separate explosions, begun about 15 minutes to mid-day, with a big bang – whose shockwaves could be felt across the city centre, throwing most residents and businesses into a panic.
The Temeke District Hospital Chief Medical Officer, Dr Aisha Mahita, confirmed that the hospital received two unidentified bodies and more than a hundred casualties. Speaking at the scene jammed by military and police personnel, the Police Force Operational Commissioner, Paul Chagonja, said that the blasts were caused by a fire at the TPDF Mbagala armoury. “It is too early to establish the cause of the fire … so far we just know that fire detonated the explosions,” said PC Chagonja.
Some of the Mbagala Kizuiani residents fear that many people, mostly soldiers, died due to the blast – but the police declined to comment on the issue. A victim of the blast, Mr James Msowoya, who was at the military base when the explosion occurred, said that the incident sent everyone at the base running for their lives. “When I heard it the first time, I thought it was a transformer blast, but the second explosion was a big one … so I immediately knew it was a bomb and lay on the ground.
“When I woke up, I just begun running … and everyone was running for their lives … behind me were four soldiers also running,” said the uninjured victim. Mr Msowoya, who is a Tigo Route Supervisor, said that he did not know the whereabouts of his colleague. The two were in the area surveying for spots to erect the company’s network towers. The ‘Daily News’ could observe that the whole of Mbagala Kizuiani area was empty, with no people in the streets on the base’s side -- most of them having left without closing their houses or securing their personal belongings.
However, the situation later changed when the police, army and fire brigade arrived; only then did hundreds of people start moving closer to the side of the base, but police officers riding a patrol vehicle (PT 1524), ordered curious area residents to stay out of the scene of the blasts -- for their safety. Reporters also observed a house -- still under construction -- gutted by fire and several others suffering cracked walls and broke glass windows and doors. “A shrapnel just landed on the roof … and into the house which then caught fire,” said an eyewitness, Mr Ally Abbas.
In a surprising turn of events, thieves and pickpockets had a field day helping themselves to an assortment of booty -- even as soldiers and their families ran for their lives from the base. At least two young men were arrested and were found to be in possession of ten explosive devices. “I saw them walk around the base … then I decided to follow them … they had various explosives when I arrested them … there were four of them … but another two managed to escape,” said Mr Abeid Mchopa, an auxiliary police, who was helping to guard the base during the blasts.
Officials said that the stolen explosives were live and dangerous if handled by a novice -- since they could explode any minute if triggered. They further told reporters that the situation remains dangerous, as some big and live remains of the explosives, which were thrown from the base, were seen along the Kilwa Road, others being picked by unsuspecting civilians. Smaller explosions continued throughout the afternoon, with the police and the army pondering ways to ensure that they do not cause more harm to the highly congested area.
Total Comments on the above stories (10)
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My sincere condolences to our poor innocent victims and relatives of the incident.
It is very unfortunate that this incident happened already innocent people have lost their lives when already in their own struggled built houses. to my thinking, this kind of JWTZ storing dangerous weapons near residential areas is unusual because JTWZ knows the consequences. Secondly the Ministry of Planning was long before started since independence or even before. Is it to say that all these years the city was not aware with planning and left people do what they liked as if there were no leaders? Did they ever really thought of this and didnt do what they were supposed or assigned to? Unplanned city like Dar will always and will be in such consequences like bombs even also big fires if leaders do not take actions.
My suggestion may be from now on these weapons should be removed from residential areas and find other far, planed places to avoid loosing more inocent lives. Lastly I appeal to the Ministry and the JWTZ sit together and plan what to do next to avoid this in future.
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I`m verry sorry for what happed overthere Mbagala. I felt a very strong hearty pain immediately afer hearing that explosion.I saw a kids, students and some parents seeking their relatives.But one thing that is so amazing, the place like store of weapons is a very sensitive part and it has to be considered with extra and special careness.But it seems things were not like that.If not there is something behind the veil but they are trying to make it invisible. They told us that up to this moment they don`t know the source of this blast. But I wish them to be open if real they are doing some of the findings as they told us and not to fabricate the scandal by coming out with wrong informations for their sake. I saying so because they normally do like that in the big accident like this.
I urge the if not the organ concern not to kid with the life of the people like that, a human being is a very precious creature than they do think.Let me take this chance to show my concern to the people of Mbagala and all victims of this explotion, may God heal and protect them forever and ever.
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This is a sad and sickening story. My sympathy and prayers goes to the injured and May the Lord console families of the diseased.
I have many questions about this disaster. One of the questions is why the TPDF keep such deadly ammunitions in an amoral that is close to residential areas? Why such powerful bombs in the city during peaceful time? If we are in a war I could understand.
The TPDF must change the protocol of ammunition storage during peaceful time. Any that can endanger civilian life must be kept in camps located outside the city. If there is a war it can mobilize. I think it is a simple protocol for any advanced army such as TPDF.
Another dangerous thing is looting ammunition. Suppose terrorist sneak or buy bombs from ignorant civilians they may use them against innocent people or even strategic infrastructure. I was expecting the military to have search and recovered every stolen peace of ammunition.
By Kalulu Kahove, Netherland. 30th April 2009
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This is a sad and sickening story. My sympathy and prayers goes to the injured and May the Lord console families of the diseased.
I have many questions about this disaster. One of the questions is why the TPDF keep such deadly ammunitions in an amoral that is close to residential areas? Why such powerful bombs in the city during peaceful time? If we are in a war I could understand.
The TPDF must change the protocol of ammunition storage during peaceful time. Any that can endanger civilian life must be kept in camps located outside the city. If there is a war it can mobilize. I think it is a simple protocol for any advanced army such as TPDF.
Another dangerous thing is looting ammunition. Suppose terrorist sneak or buy bombs from ignorant civilians they may use them against innocent people or even strategic infrastructure. I was expecting the military to have search and recovered every stolen peace of ammunition.
By Kalulu Kahove, Netherland. 30th April 2009
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Lol... i cant believe it! our country has weapons! i still thought that we only have Rungus!
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The situation was really very bad because people's properties have destroyed accoumpanied by the death of innocent Tanzanians.
One thing i don't understand is that there are police force officers who are being highly paid for years in order to make sure that bombs,guns and other weapons are always safe each day they do make inspections every day.When it happens like this we somehow loose trust to our commands and the government whether they really care peolples lives.
As a Tanzania i would like to see the government takes serious investigations upon the incidence,because this is a shame also to the country.
God bless Tanzania.
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So what is this all about? why do we have unsafe and dangerous weapons floating around? who is behind this seemingly internal terrorist attack? have we become a nation of terrorists too? what actions are going to be taken to make sure that these weapons don't get into wrong hands? Somebody please explain this, this is not my Tanzania, the most peaceful country in the world! what happened to us? I know it has to do with the economy!
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This is terrible... Why keep such deadly munition in residential area?
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It is a very sad incident which happened at Mbagala yesterday causing lost of lives and causing several people bieing injured. this is alesson to be leanrt by the government to separate residential and military areas.
We as Tanzanian leaving abroad are sending condolences to the falies who lost their young ones and wishes the injured get wll wishes.Also the President has to bear in mind to that this is a punishment from Almighty that it was a big mistake for the previous governmrnt to send troops to Zanzibar ie Unguja and Pemba whenever there is election causing alot of demage . So he must be careful and it is only a begning. Also the Military authorities they must work out very quiclkly to know how many soldiers lost their lives and what measures are going to be taken terms of surporting their families.
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Mie nitacomment kwakiswahili maan kusoma kiingereza nafahmu lakini kuandika kidogo matatizo .Kwa kweli tukio la jana ni la kusikitisha sana na naiyomba serikali ichukue hatua za haraka na zinazofaa ili kuhakikisha kwamba makaazi ya raia yantengwa kabis ana kambi za kijeshi na vile vile vifaa vya hatari kama hivyo ghala zake ziswe mbali hata kwa wanajeshi wenyewe kwani wao, nido tuwaowategemea katika kulinda nchi yetu au hat kwenda kuwasaidia wenzetu wanapopatwa na maafa ya kivita . vile vile nawapa pole wazee,ndugu na jamaa waliopptezaroho zo na walioumia .
Mwisho tunakuomba Mheshimiwa Rais na mawazzir na kila kitengo kinachohusika kufanya kila muzalo kunusuru kuja kudhulimiwa wakati wa kufanya malipo ya fidia ili waliohasirika na wao waridhike .
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