39 die in two accidents.

Traffic Police Commander Mohamed Mpinga.

A total of 39 people died yesterday in two separate accidents including 20 gold miners who were buried alive in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region.

 

The small-scale miners met their death at Kalole Gold Mine in Kahama and one hundred others were seriously injured.

 

 Eye witness Grace Makula, a gold miner, said they were mining as the walls caved in on them and buried them. She said the area produced much gold which reportedly earned miners Sh20 million, drawing many more to the sight.

 

She added that traders from Mwanza Region rushed to Kalole and advised small-scale miners to do the job. “The traders have a lot of money,” Makula said. 

 

Until yesterday 6.00 am, 20 bodies had been were removed from the mine sight while it was believed that other bodies were in still in the mine.

 

Kahama District Commissioner Benson Mpesya said removing of bodies was still continuing, promising information would be released later.

 

Shinyanga Regional Police Commander, Justus Kamugisha, confirmed the incident at Kalole Gold Mine, saying that they are proceeding with efforts to find more bodies.

 

Meanwhile, 19 people were killed onthe spot at Kiwira, Mbeya, when their vehicle, Hiace Model with registration No. T 290 ABU, lost direction and fell into a river in Rungwe.

 

Rashid Sumi, an eye witness, said the vehicle was going from Mbeya to Tukuyu, and that after crashing into the river he and others rushed there, but managed to rescue only four people.

 

Mbeya Regional Police Commander (RPC) Ahmed Msangi confirmed the incident and attributed high speed as the cause of the accident, as the driver failed to control it.

 

He added that the area has a high slope with many corners, so drivers in high speed often fail to control the vehicles.

 

“The accident occurred at 9.00am …18 people died on spot while another one died while being taken to hospital. Four others were seriously injured.

 

Acting Medical Officer of Rungwe District Hospital, Aminiel Kigumo received the 19 bodies.

 

On 14 April, it was reportedly that at least 2,116 road accidents occurred, 970 people died and over 2,470 persons were injured in road accidents in the past four months.

 

According to Traffic Police Commander Mohamed Mpinga 273 died in January alone, and 876 others were injured in road accidents.  In February 238 people died and 726 others were injured.

 

“It is saddening that between March 11 and April 12 some 103 people died and 138 others were injured in road accidents.”