People living in flood prone areas have been advised to shift to safer areas to avoid floods due to the ongoing long rains, the Kagera Regional Manager of the Tanzania Meteorological Association (TMA), Samwel Butene, has warned.
He said all seven districts of Karagwe, Muleba, Bukoba, Kyerwa, Biharamulo, Ngara and Misenyi have recorded good rainfall, urging district councils to ensure that the drainage system is well maintained to allow water to flow smoothly.
He advised residents in the region to keep abreast by following the weather forecast given by TMA. Meanwhile, the Bukoba Municipal Council in collaboration with Lake Victoria Management Programme (LVEM Phase Two), plans to construct modern toilets around Bukoba town in efforts to keep the environment friendly.
The Municipal Health Officer, Ladislaus Oisso, said plans were underway to rehabilitate the existing toilets and build new ones in various areas including customs (bandarini) and on Lake Victoria fish landing sites to serve the increasing number of fishing communities.
To start with, special disposal baskets would be placed in various corners around the town to enable residents to dispose their waste. More than half of solid wastes produced in Bukoba municipality are not collected due to lack of enough equipment. Mr Oisso revealed that during 2011, the municipality produced a total of 25,550 tons of solid waste while those collected were 10,950 tons.
He said the municipal council also needs ten vehicles for waste collection but has only one tractor in good working condition. According to Mr Oisso, a total of 100m/- was needed for keeping the environment clean, including collection of solid waste.
He urged Bukoba residents to have a culture of keeping their environment clean at their respective homes instead of depending on the municipality alone. Mr Oisso also warned people who polluted rivers and Lake Victoria and those who had constructed residential buildings near water sources.
He said five environmental surveillance teams have been set up and would make spot checks around the 14 Wards in Bukoba Municipality. Those found responsible of polluting the environment would be fined 50,000/-, he warned.
By MEDDY MULISA, Tanzania Daily News
