Chenge Guilty of Causing Death by Careless Driving

Alex Bitekeye, The Citizen Reporter writes, '' Former cabinet minister Andrew Chenge(above photo) was yesterday found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment.

However, the Kinondoni court Magistrate gavee Mr. Chenge, a former Attorney General, the option of fines totalling Sh 700,000,whiich the Bariadi west MP paid promptly to avoid a stint behind bars after he was convicted on all four counts he had been charged with....convicted of driving dangerously on apublic road and causing the death of the two people by dangerous driving and fined him Sh 250,000 for each offence or serve a year in jail in default on each account. the second and fourth counts were driving an uninsured vehicle and damage to property,respectively,for which the former Infrastructure Development Minister was fined Sh100,000 for each offence.....''

NOTE:Alot has been said by the general public regarding this case,but the decision has been reached by the judiciary.

Drivng Upcountry!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

Driving in upcountry is a learning process, leisure, relaxation you name it. In my recent drive to Musoma, a town along the shores of Lake victoria I saw these 'dancing lizards', i call them that because when you approach them they 'rythmically' move their heads left and right as if they are dancing to a certain tune. Some of the kids who were around by that time told me that they are called 'butungu', a local name. The kids told me that, sometimes you can sing and they would dance!

Well, as you drive in upcountry there is always something new to learn. What do you think?

MOI receives 68accident Victims!

Within 24 hours(from yesterday 7.00am to today 7.00am) Muhimbili orthopaedic Institute received 68 accident cases, out of these 30 were admitted and 38 were discharged after treatment.

According to Acting Hospital Public Relations officer, Mwamini king'homella, the victims were from different parts of Dar es salaaam city and they had injuries of various types i.e. heads and bone injuries from arms legs and ribs.

SPOTLIGHT!

''Traffic jams are unnecessary in most parts of the world and it is bad organization that causes them most of the time''.

Comments on my Blog by a Blogger,Cuban in London.

Dar Traffic Jams-4!(Happy Boxing Day!)

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

While I was on the traffic jam,tired, bored and angered I ended up reading billboards along the road to keep myself busy so that i dont fall asleep. I happened to see this interesting piece along Morogoro Road, ''Mango Growers Association was inviting the general public to the Mango Tasting Festival''. interesting eeh? i think they forgot to say that everyone should come with his/her knife!

Foleni zinatupa muda wa kusoma matangazo barabarani kama hilo hapo juu nililiona barabara ya morogoro. Tamasha la kuonja Embe,kwa wapenda embe kama mimi nafikiri ilikuwa siku njema sana. Happy Boxing Day!

Dar Roads!Accidents as usual!

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Badly bruised arm after the motor accident.

Merry Xmas with Safe Driving!

Don't Drink and Drive. I failed to get the picture of the fatal accident occured at Sam Nujoma Road today. One Suzuki Vitara knocked down a motorcycle which then knocked down a pedestrian who died on the spot!

Please drive safely!

Street Literature!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

The message on this commuter bus(daladala) says ''Uzuri wa Paka sio Rangi'' simply meaning ''The beauty of the cat is not its colour''

Motorcyclists Death Rate 'Alarming".

The number of motorcycle accidents and people killed as a result is increasing at an unprecedented pace, with more than 500 human lives lost between January and September, this year.

Commissioner of operation in the Police Force Mr. Paul Chagonja, said in Dar es salaam yesterday that about 10,000 accidents occured during the period under review which also injured 3,407 people.

Mr. Chagonja told journalists that the accidents were increasing at an alarming rate and that during the same period last year 407 people died and 2,199 others were injured, attributing the mishaps to reckless driving and unqualified motorcyclists.

''We have worked out strategies tha will help us get rid of unqualified motorcyclists and hence save people's lives''.

(Story by Anne Robi, The Daily News, Thursday December 23, 2010)

''We'are Lucky eeh?'' (Tuk Tuk Motorcycle Special 3!)

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'' Aisee tumesevu eeh?''

No one was hurt on this one, lucky was on their side. Being an eye-witness,this accident was caused by negligence of the tuk tuk driver.

A 20 km long Traffic Jam!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

It might sound as a joke but that iz the truth witnessed by most of the residents of Kimara,Mbezi, Kibamba,Kiluvya etc all these are within the outskirts of the city of Dar es salaam.Iimagine a traffic jam from Ubungo traffic lights(ubungo mataa) to mbezi kwa musuguri! this is what is happening on this road these days.''These jams would make us poor'',one of the residents in the area said. He added that this is due to the fact that the jams consumes alot of fuel,productive time and hence they loose alot financially.

To some of us who manages to use shortcuts(panya roads) as seen on the photo,yet face the problems of potholes on those roads. for example in the photo is a baruti-msewe road via university of Dar es salaam,which is in a sorry state at the moment with potholes allover. May be Hon. Minister Magufuli could help us on this by ordering the repaire these feeder roads instea of projecting about the construction of expensive flyovers.

Jamani hizi foleni zinaumiza, foleni ya zaidi ya km 2o! kutoka ubungo mataa hadi mbezi kwa musuguri?wananchi wengi wameeleza masikitiko yao na kwamba inabidi hatua za haraka zichukuliwe kukabiliana na hali hii tete.

Kibamba Accidents-4(Machinjioni)

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Hapa ndio mahali ambapo roho za maelfu ya watanzania huteketea kila kukicha.picha ya juu ukiangalia jiographia ya eneo ni kwamba lina kona kali na mteremko wa kutisha. hivyo linahitaji umakini wa kutosha. china linaonekana lori ambalo tayari limeshapinduka, lakini sikuweza kupata taarifa za majeruhi au watu waliopoteza maisha kwa muda huo.

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

The photos above depicts the area which is prone to accidents and many people have lost their lives. Geograhically the area is sloppy with a sharp corner.As you can see, the lorry overturned in the no reports of death or injured people.

Tuk Tuk (Motorcycle)Special 2!

Mwanamuziki Mkongwe wa bendi ya African Stars wa ''Twanga Pepeta'' amefariki dunia kutokana ana ajali ya pikipiki. Kwa mujibu wa mtandao wa www.nifahamishe.com Abuu Semhando alikuwa akitoka eneo la africana(mbezi) ambako bendi yake ilikuwa inafanya shoo na akagongwa na gari majira ya saa kumi usiku akiwa njiani kurudi nyumbani kwake mwananyamala. Mungu ailaze roho ya Marehemu mahali Pema Peponi.Amin.
Ninachoweza kusema, huu ni mtiririko wa ajali za pikipiki na madhara yake. je tufanye nini kukabiliana na hili?

(The famous musician from African Stars Band ''Twanga Pepeta'',Abuu Semhando aka 'Baba Diana'(in the photo) is no more, following motorcycle accident which occured today at 4am. He was knocked down by a car while on his way back to his home at Mwananyamala( R.I.P).
Picha na habari kutoka: www.nifahamishe.com

Tuk Tuk (Motorcycle)Special!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

This is a victim of Motorcycle (Tuk Tuk)accident, the accident occured in the outskirts of Dar es salaam. The victim had both legs fractured as you can see in the photo(above and below).

From now on, you will be able to see for yourself the effects(injuries) of motorcycle injuries from these special posts named ''Tuk Tuk Special''. Through these posts you will be able to learn and see for yourself what is the impact of increased number of tuk tuk in the country.

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

These Stickers jamani!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

''YOU SMASH MY CAR I SMASH YOUR FACE!''. This one made my day! What do you think?

Death Ride!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

The photo was taken along the very busy Morogoro Road! Three sacks of charcoal and one passanger dangerously carried on a motorcycle *(Boda Boda or Tuk Tuk),no wonder the number of Boda boda related accidents is sky rocketting. Need i say more?

Upcountry Roads 8! Death Game?

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

To some life is something of no value, you can easily play with. This guy is playing a very dangerous game. What do you think?

Street Literature!

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''Network Busy'', not my words but what has been written at the back of the lorry.

Mind the distance!

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I wonder if our roads meet the required standards. I say so because I am not sure of the required distance when two cars pass each other. What i've seen while on highways really scares me.

Just look at this picture! Any comments?

Upcountry Roads!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

I saw this along Chalinze-Morogoro road, i thought the car was going backwards.

Is September End of The Year?

Hi all, it has been long since I last posted something on my blog. Well, I was bogged down by some issues which took most of my time. Please bear with me.

I was making follow-ups regarding the wave of motor accidents in the country within this month. I happened to talk to some guys who said ''you know, most of the people believe that December is the end of the year whereas there are so many motor accidents. But I can assure you that,September is the end the year as far as accidents are concerned. Go through Traffic Police data or hospitals like Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute(MOI), you will prove what am saying''.

MOI spokesman Mr. Jumaa Almasi said, ''.... it is true, the number of accidents received in the month of September is so high in almost every year, we are yet to establish why is that''.

Now I go back to my readers, ''so it is not true that the number of accidents in December isn't as high as in September?Did you know that?''.

Ok let me here your comments.

Kibaha Accidents 3-We Forget So Soon!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

As we mourn the demise of 11 people who died at ''Kibamba Accident'' we forget that last year in May there was a grisly accident same as this one happened at Kibaha kwa Mathias area. The lorry (photo above) rammed into a daladala which knocked a motorcycle and then rammed into a daladala. But it seems we forget so soon!
Read more on the accident at: http://ajali-traumaclass.blospot.com/2009/05/majeruhi-ajali-ya-kibaha-bado-wapo-icu.html

Accidents?: Scientific Reason-2

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What do you think will happen in narrow road like this? With reckless drivers like these?Hapa tunamtafuta Mchawi?

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(Above)What about this? what do you see?

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions) 
Above and below, this is a stretch between Morogoro and Chalinze, road construction took into consideration widening of all those dangerous areas so that vehicles could easily manouvre their way.

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

We all feel that accidents are a menace to the society. Where do we start in curbing these accidents? Not a bad idea if we emulate what the contractors did along Morogoro-Chalinze stretch. Let us start with Chalinze-Ubungo the famously known ''accident-prone'' area.

Accidents at Kibaha: Scientific Reasoning?-1

Well, I am one of those who are touched with the wave of accidents in the country. I believe there are a number of factors which contribute to the rising number of accidents in the country. In a series of articles i would try to explain why Chalinze-Ubungo is accident prone area.

This has been demonstreted by the Dar es salaam City Council when they arected a billboard at Ubungo maji congratulationg all drivers who managed to pass this accident prone area. Unfortunately, the billboard was knocked down by lorries to the extent that what remains are some aluminium posts where the billboard used to stand.

Therefore, this area is known as accident-prone, to me this a big step towards solving this problem. As a daily user of this road, for sure this is accident-prone area. But the areas where most of these accidents happen are kibaha and kibamba.

But my observation noted the following, the road is narrow, what do we expect if the cars are overtaking in narrow. Far from reckless driving, the road width(though am not an expert on road construction) could cause accidents to a great deal.

If we are to make comparison, the number of accidents from Chalinze to morogoro are so minimal due to the fact that, the road construction took into account widening of the areas which are dangerous (as Hon. Magufuli used to say 'sehemu korofi'). The areas are wide and one can drive comfortably with no hassle.

Therefore, Tanroads and its parent Ministry need to look at this and i believe by emulating what was done on chalinze-Morogoro section, the number of accidents could go down significantly.

Nawasilisha!

Accidents at Kibaha: A Scientific Reason?

Can somebody articulate why it seems there is some kind of pattern or a logical explanantion of why some of the most grisly accidents have happened in or near kibaha for many many years now.Is there any scientific reason for these occurences that our rulers have overlooked?

Kwa sababu siamini kama ni wingi wa magari au ufinyu wa barabara tu unaweza kuelezea ajali hizi. Kuna kitu kinasababisha na uhakika siyo cha kishirikina lazma kuna sababu ya kisayansi ya matukio haya.

Tembeleeni tovuti ya "Abobos" ina picha za ajali mbalimbali za vyombo vya usafiri hasa Bongo na mnaweza kupata picha ya jinsi gani kuna mahali kuna tatizo ambalo linaelezeka kisayansi na kutatulika kwa kiasi kikubwa kisayansi.

I saw this at www.jamiiforums.com as posted by Mzee Mwanakijiji and I thought I could reproduce the post for the benefit of my visitors in this blog. But above all i thank Mzee mwanakijiji for his recognition of my blog and its contribution to the society at large. secondly, i would appreciate if we could contribute on the topic at large. Welcome.

The Government has No Winch for major Accidents?

Well, Kibamba aacident was an eye opener to many of us that the government does not have a winch to uplift heavy vehicles like the oil tanker involved in the accident occured two days ago leaving 10 people dead.

Many wananchi who were on the scene, could not do anything to help the victims from 5.00am till around 10.30am when the government managed to hire one from a private company called BMK!This has been approved by the Commander Mohamed 
Mpinga,Head of traffic Police.

This takes my memories back about 4 0r 5 years ago when a lorry overturned at the same place and all vehicles including upcountry buses were forced to use the bagamoyo route.

I thought that was a lesson enough to force the government to find a winch to alleviate such disasters! It was a shame, the road could not be used for more that 3 days because there was no winch to remove the lorry? Imagine the troubles people went through especially those residing in Kibaha and nearby villages.

The Disaster Management Team which is under the Prime Ministers office should tell us something on this. Also the Ministry of Infrastructure Development should as well give us satisfying reasons why they have failed us on this? Why private companies like BMK and Bakressa having the heavy loaders while the government does not have any?

Is this ufisadi-infested-thing or poor priritization of issues?Any comments?

(Photo:Father Kidevu)

Yet Another Accident At Mbezi Mwisho, 2 Dead!

People still grieve as to the accident occured yesterday at kibamba area. This night another accident occured at Mbezi Mwisho bus stop, few Kilometers from Kibamba where 2 people are dead following this accident.
The cause of the accident is such that a lorry rammed into a packed bus.
Meanwhile relatives tries to identify their loved ones following kibamba accident. Those identified were named as Zainab Alli, Esther Paulo(who was pregnant),Abdul Twalibu,Shukuru Hussein and Faraja Ngalamba.

Kibamba Accident: 10 Dead at Dawn, at Night 2 Lorries Collide Head-on, Same place!

It was a terrible accident which happened yesterday at dawn, at kibamba darajani along Morogoro Road in the outskirts of the city of Dar es salaam. A minibus famously known as ''daladala'' was knocked down by an oil tanker leaving all 10 passengers dead! Amongst the dead was a pregnant woman whose belly was cut open leaving the dead child out of the womb.

Extraordinarily,at around 8pm two lorries collided head-on at the same place, leaving on-lookers with different interpretations of the accident.

My condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones in this terrible accident (photos by Father Kidevu)

SPOTLIGHT! (Alarming Statistics from WHO)

"90% of death occur in low or medium income countries yet high income countries have 50% of registered vehicles". (These are alarming statistics from WHO on road accidents).

Any comments? I am of the opinion that something should be done to curb the rate of accidents in our countries.Please do something before you become part of these statistics.

Dar Roads!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions) Arms akimbo! This guy seems to be very thoughtful, his car has been knocked from the back.

OVERTAKING? OH NO! NOT THIS WAY!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions) 
This is terrible driving!
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This is terrible! There is a small car coming infront of the bus. Did the bus driver saw that?No wonder these buses kill everyday.

Dar Roads!Accidents as usual!

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Accident involving a commuter bus- ''daladala''

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Accidents in Dar es salaam roads seems to be a normal thing, it involves
commuter buses-''daladala''.
(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions) 
Another one!

24 Dead,45 injured!

Passanger bus with registration number T 316 AZR , an AM Company, was involved in an accident which left 24 dead and 45 others injured. The accident occured in Kitangiri village between Nzega and Igunga. Tabora Region Police Commander confirmed the report.

He said the accident occured at 4.15pm on its way to Mwanza from Arusha. The accident occured due to high speed.

Note:

In Dar es salaam City Roads? This is Amazing!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

It amazes me to find this car with old plate numbers roaming around the streets of Dar. In the upcountry where there is some kind of laxity I have seen alot of cars with old plate numbers, but in Dar? What if this car is involved in an accident, will the traffic police use the old plate numbers? is possible for one to get insurance cover if say this car knocks a pedestrian? i had alot in mind, really.

WHY IS THIS?

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

I have been wondering why is it that when the accident happens, there is a tendency for people to be overcrowded at the scene of that accident.Any comments on this.

SPOTLIGHT! (Driving Upcountry)

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

I happened to visit one of the coastal areas and i saw this ''thing''. All of the guys around me failed to identify what is this ''thing'' may be any of the visitors of this blog could tell us what is this.

Street Literature!

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I liked what has been written at the back of this lorry, "A jobless Billionaire". What do you think?

Accidents in Dar-es-salaam Roads!

This evening there was a terrible accidents at Mbezi kwa Musuguri where two lorries collided head-on. one of the lorries knocked women who sells fried fish along the road, one of the them believed to have died on the spot.

This morogoro Road, especially from Ubungo maji to mlandizi has been accident prone area. This week alone, there were about ten major accidents.

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

Above is a picture depicting one of the accidents occured at Mbezi kwa Yusufu.

Driving Upcountry-6 (Rufiji Delta)!

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This is Rufiji Delta where River Rufiji meets the Indian Ocean. You can find ships,boats and dhows of every type.

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There are locally made small and big ships as you can see above

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Timbers from Mangroove Forests confiscated by Forestry Officers

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Forestry Officers Patrol Boat which assists special Forestry Unit to trace illegal logging of mangroove and other forestry products.
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Fishing Boats

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Confiscated Mangroove Logs

To me and my friends this trip was full of surprises! Firstly, we couldnt believe our eyes that Mangrooves could produce large pieces of timber! But one of the people residing in this area (Nyamisati) told us that, what we always see are small mangroove trees and not the big ones. "..some of them are as big as baobab trees".

Secondly, this is the area where salt water(from the ocean) meets fresh water (from river).But which suprised us the most, is the existence of some fish who roam in both fresh and salt water! There was no one to give scientific explanation to quench our thirst of knowledge on this!

But I was keen to learn of safety measures and the existence of safety gears in the boats, dhows and ships but to our utter surprise, very few, i might say 2% of the vessels had safety gears. the question is, what if the accident occurs while in deep sea?

Protection?

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

In one of the Highways I saw this, and when I asked the driver why they have kept these thorns at the back of the truck, he said it is protection against thugs who jump onto the trucks and steal the luggages.

Prosthetics and Orthotics Village

This is a new blog which gives information about prosthetics and orthotics. To many these are very difficult terms, simply means the blog gives information about rehabilitation services as to how one can benefit from various artificial appliances after the trauma of various kind. Eg loss of a leg, arm or both, paralysis due to accidents.

As we all know that the number of accidents have increased, this blog has come timely.

Mnzava, keep up the good work. I appreciate that my blog and yours could work hand in hand for the benefit of the victims of accidents.

Please visit: http://2hmnzava.blogspot.com

Is this Normal? Can't This beThe Cause of Accidents?

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions) 
PICTURE 1


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PICTURE 2

These are two container trucks (picture 1 2), I captured the pictures near Morogoro. Can you please you please note anything wrong between the two containers?

Dangerous Act!!

(Copyright: River Springs ConneXions)

It is hard to believe that this motorcyclist is risking the life of the passangers like this.