Morogoro Regional Police Commander Leonard Paulo.
The remains of 15 of the 18 people burnt to death
in Sunday’s collision between a commuter bus and a truck at Msimba
near Morogoro municipality were buried in mass grave at the Msamvu
graveyard.
Earlier reports from the scene said the number of people killed in
the accident at a section of the Morogoro-Iringa road had risen to 19 up
from 18 on Sunday. .
At the burial which drew attention from people of all walks of life
in the region attracted hundreds of mourners including
religious leaders, Kilosa and Kilombero District Commissioners John
Henjewele and Lephy Gembe respectively were also in attendance.
Henjewele acknowledged the road mishap was a big tragedy for his
district as well as Kilombero where the commuter bus plying to Mbeya
departed.
He said it was not the time to blame the drivers but the tragedy
should be a lesson to all players including commuter bus owners.
“We made a decision that we should bury them in a mass grave
putting into consideration that they were burnt beyond recognition,” he
said without detailing whether the use of carbon 14 to identify their
DNA wasn’t a better choice.
“Four bodies were identified by their relatives. Three will be
buried in Mikumi and the other body will be transported to Iringa
for burial,” he added.
Morogoro Regional Police Commander Leonard Paulo detailed that the
commuter bus christened ‘Nganga Express’ had 27 people on board a time
it departed in Kilombero.
The commander noted the Mitsubishi Fuso which was also involved in
the road accident was transporting water melons from Iringa to Dar es
Salaam. “It had three people, including the driver.”
According to the police commander the additional body was found after more police investigations onto the road accident.
“Only six bodies of the deceased including a child were identified
and taken away by their relatives,” Paulo adding the injured were in
stable condition.
Paulo named the six who were identified by their relatives as one
Mnyamvisi, Hadija Legembo (35), St Francis Secondary student Lidya
Ndongwe (16), Njombe resident Ester Mgimba (30), and Kilombero resident
Marietha Ponsiano Mbimbi (19).
A two year old Nelson Patrick residing in Njombe and suspected
truck driver and Mbeya resident Mengo Njaganje (30) were yesterday
identified.
He informed that at least 10 injured including a pregnant women
Teresia Kusila (25) were admitted at St Kizito Hospital in Mikumi.
“She is doing well. She sustained minor injuries and was admitted
at Mtandika dispensary in Kilosa,” the Police said referring to
the pregnant woman. “We have seen her she is fine.”
The police named the injured as Kilombero residents; Majaliwa
Elisha (21), Elias Augostino (36), Anyindwile Elia (30), A Form Three
student at St Marry (Mbeya) Linda Jonathan (26), Mbeya resident Rose
Seth (18) and a Form Four student at Sanje Secondary School.
Others include Ruaha resident Emmanuel Omarino (18), and a Student at Konsoranta Secondary School Shafii Mussa (25).
The tragic accident occurred along the Morogoro–Iringa highway near Msimba village on the outskirts of Morogoro Region.
There was an explosive collision between Mitsubishi Fuso truck and a
passenger bus christened Nganga Express that was travelling to Mbeya
from Kilombero.
The vehicles involved had registration number T373 DAH and T164 BKG for the bus and truck respectively.
Meanwhile, several passengers’ cheated death yesterday after a bus
christened ‘Princess Munaa’ was involved in yet another road accident in
Mtanana Kibaigwa village, Kongwa District, Dodoma Region.
Dodoma ACP David Misime confirmed the incident yesterday and said
fortunately, no deaths occurred despite the severe injuries suffered.
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