Rebuilding Hanang: Over Sh5.2 billion collected for mudslide recovery

Dar es Salaam. Hanang residents whose houses were swept by floods would be required to wait for 90 days, thanks to the government. Resettlement has already commenced following the construction of 101 residential buildings.

The Chief Government Spokesperson, Mr Mobhare Matinyi told the press conference on Friday, January 5, 2024 that 101 houses would be built for residents whose houses had been destroyed during the disaster, according to the government analysis.

Mr Matinyi was updating the nation on the current situation in Hanang, the Ngorongoro voluntary relocation to Msomera, and the government’s recorded achievements in the health sector.

During the event, he said that the assessment has established that 89 households were completely destroyed during the catastrophe, while the remaining 12 had been built in an area marked as dangerous for human habitation.

“The government has therefore been helping citizens start over through the construction of 101 houses. One hundred hectares of land have been secured for the purpose, cleared, and 269 plots have already been surveyed,” he said.

“The plots include 226 earmarked for residential purposes. We have 26 of them for housing and businesses, and 17 others for social services,” he added.

He mentioned that some social activities that will be catered for on the 17 plots, such as the construction of schools, a dispensary, prayer facilities, reserving an area meant for a cemetery, open grounds, sports grounds, and a local government office.

He added that plots would be reserved for future uses, noting that the victims would be settled in three-bedroom houses.

Further, he said that the government is completing the drawing of house architectural designs, computing building costs, and preparing a construction system that will conclude the construction within three months.

Donations

Mr Matinyi said that donations worth Sh3.175 billion have already been received from different well-wishers, including institutions, individuals, organisations, public and private companies, local and foreign civil society organisations, political parties, religious institutions, and sports clubs.

“As of today, the National Relief Fund located at the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has received a total of Sh2.736 billion. By adding the $1 million received by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on her tour in Dubai, the amount exceeds Sh5.2 billion,” he said.

Students

He further said that children from the area are provided with new uniforms, shoes, bags, and exercise books, depending on their respective class levels.

“The children have started receiving the equipment in an exercise coordinated by the Regional Commissioner, Queen Sendiga. The exercise is expected to be concluded today (Friday),” he said.

According to him, schools used for accommodating disaster victims have been prepared for the new academic year, noting that another facility that would be used as a store has been located to leave a room for school activities to resume when schools reopen on January 8.

Farms

Mr Matinyi said that an assessment conducted by the government has found that a total of 755 acres of farmland belonging to 369 farmers were destroyed in six wards.

“The government is distributing sunflower, maize, wheat, and bean seeds to farmers in affected wards. Fertilisers will also be distributed to 371 farmers free of charge,” he said.

Livestock

According to him, Sh64.9 million worth of livestock were washed away by floods, according to the government assessment.

He named the livestock and respective numbers as heads of cattle (70); goats (115); sheep (102); pigs (12); rabbits (15); and chickens (264).

“The government is vaccinating the remaining livestock, conducting an assessment, and providing pest and disease control medicines for free to livestock keepers,” he said.

Social services

He said government authorities have finalised measures to restore the provision of social services, including the provision of clean and safe water and promoting hygiene and security in the area.