By Meddy MulisaBukoba — ABOUT 381 passengers who were aboard the Mv Victoria, plying between Bukoba-Mwanza via Kemondo Bay narrowly cheated death, after the ship's engines failed midway.
The passengers had to endure ordeal as Port officials at Kemondo made frantic efforts to tug the vessel to shallow waters. Mv. Victoria Captain Bembele Samson Bembele told a team of reporters at Kemondo Bay on Saturday that the automatic system failed suddenly after leaving Bukoba Port at around 9.00 pm on Friday.
"The vessel usually depends on its automatic system which failed suddenly. We left Bukoba Port at around 9.00 pm and after one hour the vessel developed mechanical problems.
I was forced to engage manual system for emergency landing at Kemondo Bay," he said. Mr Bembele allayed fears that the vessel would continue its journey to Mwanza after an essential spare part is replaced.
SUMATRA Kagera Regional Chief, Mr Alex Katama said Mv Victoria was in good condition and there was no reason for unnecessary worry. He noted that passengers who decided not to proceed with the journey would be refunded their fare.
One of the passengers, Hadija Komugasho (27), a petty trader dealing in transporting raw bananas to Mwanza City raised concern that she had hired a cabin containing over 300 bunches of bananas after securing a 10m/- loan from the CRDB Bank.
She appealed to President Jakaya Kikwete to fulfil his promise he made during 2010 campaigns to buy a new ship on Lake Victoria. Mv Victoria started operations in Lake Victoria in 1960.
About 18 years after the dreadful Mv Bukoba accident which claimed over 1,000 lives, this recent mishap has shocked many residents in Kagera Region who depend on the vessel.
On May 21, 1996 Mv Bukoba was on a routine journey from Bukoba via Kemondo to Mwanza. It capsized and sank some eight kilometres from Mwanza city.
During the ordeal, 332 bodies were recovered and taken by their relatives for burial, 391 bodies were buried by the government at Igoma area in Mwanza City, while 114 people survived the accident.
Meanwhile, a survivor of the Mv Bukoba accident has appealed to the government to announce May 21 a public holiday, to enable Tanzanians to commemorate the event.
Mr David Mutensa (44) was among the passengers on the Mv Bukoba and left Bukoba Port heading for Dar es Salaam on a business trip.
"I was awakened by a terrified co-passenger at around 6 a.m. on May 21, 1996 who told me that something was amiss as the steamer had lost stability.
I quickly pulled a nearby life-jacket and put it on my body. Instantly, I heard a big bang and was thereupon thrown about five meters deep into the Lake Victoria .
I guess I lost consciousness for three to five minutes. When I regained I was floating into the water and the ship had already capsized and everything was in total confusion," he recounts.
He said the accident happened at around 6.30 a.m. and he was rescued at 11 a.m. Bodies had started floating and it was a grisly incident. Mr Mutensa said it would be appropriate if the government marked May 21 a national public holiday to enable fellow Tanzanians to commemorate the event.
He said the government should also construct a historical monument at the regional commissioner's offices with names of people who died in the mishap and those who survived the accident.
"Since 1996 I have stopped traveling by steamer. Every time I avoid the water and instead I travel by road or air," he said. Several families lost their dear ones including the family of Lutanjuka from Rukulungo village, in Kiziba Division, in Misenyi District who lost a total of 23 people who were going back to Dar es Salaam after attending a funeral at Rukulungo village.
Salum Mawingu (66), a former Balimi FC striker, also lost 18 relatives who died in the Mv Bukoba disaster. The relatives were coming from Kamachumu town, in Muleba District where they had just attended a send-off and were heading to Dar es Salaam.