Jengo la ghorofa kadhaa laanguka mjini DSM!

[Mhafidhina]

Embu angalieni hili jambo kwa mapana, mi nahisi hii ni laana.

Inasemakana mmoja wa wamiliki wa jengo hili ni kati ya watu waliohusishwa na EPA, na ndio aliechota fungu kubwa zaidi na ndio akatumia sehemu ya fungu hilo kujengea jengo hilo.

Sasa laana za watanzania zimewarudia na jengo walilolijenga limeanguka. Amakweli ufisadi ni laana tupu.

 

[Augustoons]

wataalam wetu wamekuwa na tamaa hawazingatii miiko ya taaluma zao! inawezekana vipi jengo lifikie hatua hiyo bila kugundulika kwa hitilafu zilizopelekea madhara haya kutokea. hivi haya mambo pia yanahitaji Rais au Waziri mkuu kusimamia?hakuna proffesional ethics hapa.tumuombe mwenyezi mungu anusuru roho za watu tena sana sana utakuta ni wale vibarua wabeba zege.

WEE ngoja tujiulize swali dogo,hivi ulishawahi kuona ukienda pale manispaa kupitisha mchoro wako wa jengo kwanza unapita hivihivi tu,kwa mhandisi,bwana afya nk?pili wakishakupa building permit ushawaona wanakuja kufatilia kama umejenga au la?au unaendeleaje?na je,kuna legal obligation yoyote unapoendelea kujenga kuwa uwe unaenda kuripoti kwao na hata baada ya kukamilika jengo au ukishindwa kuendelea?kama majibu ya maswali yote haya ni hapana,basi ujue unaweza ukapitisha mchoro na kupewa building permit kama legal requirement tu lakini sio lazima ujenge kulingana na huo mchoro.Kutokana na hilo hii process inakuwa ni kupoteza muda tu mwishowe ndio majanga kama haya.

 

[Katibu Tarafa]

Na ile tume ya LOWASSA kuchunguza kilichotokea kule Changombe Villa ripoti iko wapi?

Lazima sasa tutake majibu ya serikali kwani huenda tukafa wote mpaka tukaisha siku sio nyingi wajameni.

Mungu awape matumaini wote waliopatwa na madhila haya makubwa.

ilikwisha toka,lakini walishindwa kuendelea baada ya jengo kukosa mmiliki.

 

[Invisible]

Tunaye humu humu JF Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Architects Tanzania anaweza kukiri hapa kuwa kweli Quality ya majengo mengi Dar iko chini.

Si rahisi kwa client (mteja) kuelewa kama jengo ni baya endapo QS, Architect na Structural Engineer hawatamfahamisha juu ya ubovu huo. Yeye kwake (as a lay person in Construction) ataona jengo zuri tena anaweza kumpongeza mkandarasi na wahandisi kuwa wamemwandalia kitu safi.

Wahandisi wanaoendekeza rushwa wameiharibu sekta ya ujenzi kiasi ambacho kila mtu anamini wahandisi wengi ni wala rushwa. Hata kabla ya kuongea na mtu anakuuliza "Zako ngapi hapo"!

Inakuwa inachosha sana hii... Aidha watanzania ni wakati wa kutambua kuwa vitu rahisi vina gharama zake. Majengo ya namna hii yanajengwa na wakandarasi wale wanaothamini zabuni kwa bei za chini na kwakuwa washauri (Consultants) wa mteja (client) wanakuwa washapokea cha juu toka kwa mkandarasi mtoa rushwa basi mwenye mali anawaambia wampe mwenye gharama wanayoridhia. Wao humpa mwenye bei ya chini mara nyingi kwa kumdanganya kuwa kwanza ni bei nafuu na reasonable na pia hummalizia kuwa hawa wote ni wakandarasi wanaolingana.

Tatizo ni pale unapoenda na zabuni (tender) yako ikiwa na bei fair ukiwa hujabambikiza ukawa lowest bidder na ukawapa time frame nzuri kabisa, kama hujawahakikishia chao basi ujue atapewa highest bidder huku wakikumaliza kuwa huyu amekuja na bei ya uwongo na muda aliosema anaweza kuimaliza kazi haiwezekani kwa kazi husika.

Yaani wa kulaumiwa katika haya yote ni hawa:

Client (mteja) kwa uzembe wa kutoyafanyia utafiti wa ziada na kuajiri watu wa kuzihakiki kazi za consultants (washauri) kabla ya kuingia mkataba (contract). Kuwa na hela hakumaanishi kuwa na kila kitu katika issue ya ujenzi. Unaweza kuwa nazo ukakosa washauri wa maana ukajengewa bomu!

Mkandarasi (Contractor) kwa kufanya kazi chini ya kiwango na (kama ilikuwepo) kutoa rushwa kwa washauri (consultants) ili apewe zabuni husika ili mradi ajinufaishe yeye na jamaa zake. Huyu nafsi haimsuti kuwa anachofanya kinaweza ku-back fire?

Bodi ya wakandarasi (Contractors' Registration Board) kwa kutokupitia kazi za wakandarasi mara kwa mara na kubaini kasoro za namna hii mapema kabla tatizo halijawa kubwa zaidi. Aidha makampuni mengi yana "watu wao" ndani ya bodi hiyo kiasi hata kazi zao zikipindishwa hawakoromewi!

Washauri (Consultants) kwa kutosimamia uimara (Quality Control of the designed project) na kuacha mambo yaende yalivyo. Kuna Architects wengine wanachojua ni kuchora tu na hawajui kuwa walichochora hakiwezi kujengeka na structurally it's impossible in Africa! Hawa ni watu hatari kwa taifa... Kuna kazi nyingi ambazo ukienda na kumwuliza mkandarasi (contractor) kuwa Architect ni nani lazima kwanza aende kwenye bango na kusoma (maana hajawahi kukanyaga site) na wengine ukiwauliza wanakwambia Architect ndiye QS ndiye Structural Engineer pia! What message do you get?

TBA (Tanzania Building Agency) kwa uzembe wao kwani wahandisi wa Manispaa wanakuwa wanapita mara kwa mara kwenye site kadhaa wanachoishia kufanya ni kuchukua mgawo wao toka kwa makandarasi.

Kama wanadhani ninachoandika hapa ni uwongo wasihangaike kuanzisha tume ya kufuatilia suala hili kwani huenda nao wakapuuzwa.

Haina haja ya kupoteza mamilioni kuwapa watu wawe kwenye kamati za namna hii bali kuwapa hela kidogo tu wataalamu kadhaa wenye uchungu na taifa hili (Naamini dada Subira Mchumo na Mkuu Kaisi Kalambo wananielewa nalenga nini) na upuuzi wa namna hii unaweza kusafishwa haraka kabisa.

Inashangaza ERB, Bodi ya ma-Architect + Ma-QS na CRB zinakuwa zinaendeshwa kisiasa... Hili ni tatizo kubwa ambalo lisipotatuliwa basi ujenzi wa namna hii utaendelea sana.

Masikini Tanzania...

 

[Nyambala]

Mkuu invisible Hivi Linza bado yupo?? Maana kuna kipindi kila ghorofa kariakoo Structural Engineer alikuwa Linza.

 

[Tujisenti]

Hivi wahandisi wetu wanasoma vyuo vipi? Wanachukua maximum payments halafu wanatumia mafundi wa bei poa na vifaa pungufu. Lazma serikali wawe wakali kwa watu kama hao.

 

[FairPlayer]

Tatizo sio wamesomea wapi, tatizo ni kutofuata maadili ya taaluma.

 

[Mtaalam]

i commented abt this thing as utani siku moja sikumbuki kwenye topic gani abt report ya lile jengo lilioangukaga kama sikosei mwaka jana...n ikaundwa sijui tume sijui watever...til nw we never even sikiad the report au wat was the uamuzi abt it...nkasema tusubiri jengo lingine lianguke ndipo tutasikia serikali yetu tena ikiiunda tume ingine...

i wish siku ingine jengo lingine lianguke mhehsimiwa akiwemo ndani kama pm hivi au makamu wa jk au mwenyewe jk.....then nadhani ndo tutakua serious..

mijengo kibao kariakoo kule yashow kabsaaa imempinda lakini bado wahindi wanaongeza ghorofa zingine on top no body is concerned!!

 

[Invisible]

Mkuu invisible Hivi Linza bado yupo?? Maana kuna kipindi kila ghorofa kariakoo Structural Engineer alikuwa Linza.

Wapo mkuu Nyambala... Watakuwa nao walisafishwa kama kawaida. Ndio mchezo ninaoona sasa unafanyika.

Hata uwe mchafu vipi hela inaweza kukusafisha. Kama huamini basi inawezekana kwa Bongo yetu.

Wahandisi wengi na wanataaluma wetu hawafuati maadili ambayo tunafundishwa vyuoni na wakufunzi wetu.

Kama FD alivyosema hapo juu haijalishi watu wamesoma vyuo gani lakini wasipofuata maadili ya kazi hata kama wamesomea Havards bado watafanya upuuzi kama huu.

Bado tunasumbuliwa na huu ujasiri wa kifisadi ambao kwa sasa nahisi Tanzania unaelekea kushinda kwa jeuri ya pesa.

Kama naongopa mwulize FD na yeyote aliye Bongo apitie Kariakoo akwambie kwenye mabango ya majengo ambayo bado yako kwenye hatua za awali kabisa (foundation laying) yamebandikwa nani kama Structural Engineer na uone kama hujaambiwa Linza Concrete Design.

Inakuwa proposed Concrete mix ya Grade 30 na watu wanaweka grade 20 au hata kiwango chini ya hicho.

Thamani ya Cubic meter moja ya Grade 30 concrete inacheza kwenye Tshs 250,000-300,000 lakini mtu ana-bid hiyo kwa 150,000/- hapo unatarajia afanye nini?

Upuuzi mtupu!

 

[Kuhani]

Inasikitisha lakini ndivyo tulivyo!

Basi inawezekana mnafurahia, wala hamsikitikii, haya majanga.

Nakataa vikali nadharia ya kukata tamaa inayosema wahandisi na watalaam wote wa Tanzania ni wala rushwa na wasio na akili timamu.

Na kwa sababu kumbe ndivyo mlivyo, na mmehodhi nguvu zote za Taifa kwa sasa, hatutawasihi tena muanze kuifiria nchi na kugeuka njia zenu. Tutakuja siku kufanikiwa kuwaondoa madarakani. Kitakuja kizazi kipya baada ya chenu kuondoka na hivyo kilivyo.

Nimesema inawezekana mnafurahia. Lakini kama hamfurahii haya, na mnajua, na mnatutangazia hivyo ndivyo mlivyo, basi pisheni wengine, wale wanaowaambia, hapana, hapana, samahani, wengine hatuko hivyo mlivyo.

Maana nyinyi mngependa, lakini mmeumbwa hamuwezi, kuacha kula rushwa na mmekiri hivyo ndivyo mlivyo. Mngependa, lakini mmeumbwa hamuwezi, kuwa 'wenye akili timamu' na mnatuambia hivyo ndivyo mlivyo. Mngependa, lakini mmeumbwa hamuwezi, kutoka mifukoni mwa Matajiri wenye asili ya nje, na mmetoa ushuhuda hivyo ndivyo mlivyo. Mngependa, lakini mmeumbwa hamuwezi, kuacha kuuziana haki, na mmejitoa kwenye ukweli wenu kwamba hivyo ndivyo mlivyo.

Kuna siku kizazi chenu kitasogea pembeni chenyewe, kama hamtaki kutoka, na kitakuja kingine kitakachoipa Tanzania nafasi ya kujaribu yaliyo tofauti na yale ya hivyo mlivyo. Kwa wakati huu, msituambie mnasikitika!

 

[BAK]

kama inawezekana, tuletee pia piicha za signboard, ule ubao unaonyesha client, consultant, structural engineer, nk. ni muhimu kufahamu hawa watu waliotufikisha hapa. kwa kuwa inasemekana tangu jana jengo lenyewe lilionekana kuegemea upande mmoja. baadaye nitwaambia wakuu wangu, majengi mengi yanayojengwa dsm, si salama, kuna uhuni mwingi. nitaupasua hapa jamvini kwa kuwa hii ndo taaluma yangu. tumepiga kelele mingi sana kwenye semina, warsha nk, lakini taasisi zinazohusika kama ERB, AQRB, CRB, NCC, wameweka pamba maskioni.

Kuna anayejali kitu Bongo? Mkuu wa nchi unaona kawanyamazia kimya mafisadi, kwenye hili watajibaraguzabaraguza kama kawaida yao lakini hakutakuwa na jipya lolote maana nchi iliyoshikwa na mafisadi ndivyo inavyoendeshwa hakuna kipaumbele wala uwajibikaji.

 

[Mwikimbi]

hapana, verticality haiwezi kuangusha jengo, kinachofanya jengo lianguke ni hayo yafuatayo

1.inadequate design katika nondo, yaani kuweka nondo zenye wrong dimension, au kiasi kidogo. pia poor design in concrete itself, mfano mahali pa kuweka mix ratio kubwa unaweka ndogo kwa ajili ya uzembe au kuogopa gharama.

2. inawezekana kabisa kwa kutokujua ukatumia nondo zisizo na kiwango, mfano endapo kwenye mchoro unaambiwa tumia 16mm bars, na wewe ukaamua tu kutumia 16mm bars, round, badala ya 16mm bars zenye mgongo uko kwenye hatari kubwa. nondo zenye migongo au wanaita machale zina strenth twice ya zile zisizo na migongo

3.0 unaweza ku-design jengo likapinda hata 22 degrees, mradi limepinda kwa ajili ya design na wala siyo kwa ajili ya uzembe.

4. kwa upande wa tanzania, hali ni mbaya kwa kuwa kuna viwanda vinavyozalisha building materials ambazo hazifai kama nondo zinazozalishwa arusha hazifai kwa ajili kuwa hazina tensile sternth ya kutosha, zinatengenezwa na scrap metals

5 kiwanda cha cement cha mbeya kinazalisha cement inayoitwa pozolana, hii haifai kwa structures kama majengo na madaraja. ukitumia lazima uipe kuda wa kutosha wa curing, otherwise madhara ndo hayo.

sasa jengo linapoanguka kuna mambo mengi yanapaswa kufanywa, na maswali ya kujiuliza ni haya

1.0 je materials zilizotumika zilifanyiwa testing na kukubalika? kama zilikubalika je tulitumia laboratory ya kueleweka? kwa kuwa rushwa ni tatizo pia katika lab zetu

2.0 je mix ratio au design mix ilifuatwa? kama hapana hapa lazima mhandisi mshauri wa mradi na mkandarasi awajibike

3.0 je wakati wa designtuliangalia external forces, eg wind load, underground conditons nakadhalika

4.0 je sequence ya construction actvities ilifuatwa? isije ikawa lilikuwa linajengwa tu bila kuruhusu curing nk. hapa mhandisi mshauri na team nzima ya ushauri wanapasw akuwajibika

sasa, ni wapi mhandisi wa manispaa anawajibika hapa? alipaswa kuwa lab? alipaswa kuangalia mix ratio? alipaswa kuhesabu mifuko ya cememt?

kuna watu wanalipwa kwa kazi hii

structural engineer, architect, quantity surveyor wanalipwa up 10% as fees kumonitor hii hali. walikuwa wapi? kwa nini akamatwe mhandisi wa manispaa badala ya hawa?

bodi za CRB NDIYO INAYO SAJILI NA KUIHAKIKISHIA UMMA KUWA MKANDARASI ALIYEJENGA JENGO HILI ANA UTAALAMU WA KUTOSHA, wanalipwa project registration fee na wanapaswa kutembela site kuona kuwa mkandarasi wao ana=pracise delligently je walifanya hivyo? je, wamekamatwa?

engineers registration board je?

 

[Mwikimbi]

kuna story moja ya kweli
kuna mwekezaji mmoja alikuja kwangu, yeye ananunua viwanja hasa maeneo ya kariakoo, anajenga majengo halafu anapangisha au anauza. akaniomba nimtafutie mhandisi wa kusimamia majengo yake. nikmpatia kijana aliyemaliza chuo kikuu hapo dsm, akamtumia kwa muda na akawa anamlipa vizuri sana. all over the sudden akanipigia simu kuwa hamtaki yule mhandisi na kuwa asiruke site zake. nilipofika ofisini nikamkuta yule mhandisi amerudi kwenye ofisi hiyo ya zamani

hadithi ya mhandisi yule ilikuwa ni hivi. walikuwa wanamwaga zege kwenye 10th floor ya jengo moja huko temeke. a day before alikuwa amemaliza kusuka nondo zote, maji yalikuwa site, na alikuwa ame-order cement mifuko 250. siku ya zege yule mwekezaji akamtuma yule mhandisi kwenye site nyingine, akiwa huko akapata habari kuwa zege limeanza na linasimamiwa na foreman ambaye hajui chochote. pia usiku ule mwekezaji aliamuru nondo zoichomolewe kwa, nondo moja kila baada ya nondo tano! mhandisi alipokimbilia site akakuta kuwa nondo zimechomolewa nyingi tu, cement aliyokadiria badala ya mifuko 250, iko mifuko 175, na zege limeanza! na zege ndo limeanza

alipoanza kufoka, mwekezaji akaamuru vibarua wamfukuze site kwa nguvu, na ajira yake ikaishia pale!

 

[Augustoons]

kuna story moja ya kweli
kuna mwekezaji mmoja alikuja kwangu, yeye ananunua viwanja hasa maeneo ya kariakoo, anajenga majengo halafu anapangisha au anauza. akaniomba nimtafutie mhandisi wa kusimamia majengo yake. nikmpatia kijana aliyemaliza chuo kikuu hapo dsm, akamtumia kwa muda na akawa anamlipa vizuri sana. all over the sudden akanipigia simu kuwa hamtaki yule mhandisi na kuwa asiruke site zake. nilipofika ofisini nikamkuta yule mhandisi amerudi kwenye ofisi hiyo ya zamani

hadithi ya mhandisi yule ilikuwa ni hivi. walikuwa wanamwaga zege kwenye 10th floor ya jengo moja huko temeke. a day before alikuwa amemaliza kusuka nondo zote, maji yalikuwa site, na alikuwa ame-order cement mifuko 250. siku ya zege yule mwekezaji akamtuma yule mhandisi kwenye site nyingine, akiwa huko akapata habari kuwa zege limeanza na linasimamiwa na foreman ambaye hajui chochote. pia usiku ule mwekezaji aliamuru nondo zoichomolewe kwa, nondo moja kila baada ya nondo tano! mhandisi alipokimbilia site akakuta kuwa nondo zimechomolewa nyingi tu, cement aliyokadiria badala ya mifuko 250, iko mifuko 175, na zege limeanza! na zege ndo limeanza

alipoanza kufoka, mwekezaji akaamuru vibarua wamfukuze site kwa nguvu, na ajira yake ikaishia pale!

Ndivyo mambo yanavyokuwa

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

TBA (Tanzania Building Agency) kwa uzembe wao kwani wahandisi wa Manispaa wanakuwa wanapita mara kwa mara kwenye site kadhaa wanachoishia kufanya ni kuchukua mgawo wao toka kwa makandarasi.

TBA hawahusiki. Wao wanasimamia majengo ya serikali KUU na si mengine. Wenye jukumu na mamlaka ya kutoa vibali vya ujenzi kwa watu binafsi wanaojenga kwenye maeneo yao ni manispaa na si mwingine.

Mimi naona wakulaumiwa hapa ni:
a) manispaa kama watoaji vibali vya ujenzi na matumizi. Hawa wana ma'building inspector' ambao baada ya kibali kutoka wanatakiwa wahakikishe jengo linajengwa kama kibali kinavyosema.
b) washitiri kwa kukataa kutumia makonsaltant na makandarasi wenye ujuzi. Washitiri mara zote wanataka kutumia pesa kidogo iwezekanavyo kwenye design, usimamizi na ujenzi.
c) Consultants kwa kujiuza na kukubali kutumiwa na washitiri wenye mtazamo potovu.
d) bodi za makandarasi na zile za architects na wahandisi kwa kutokuhakikisha kuwa baada ya watu kulipia nembo wanatimiza yale yaliyomo kwenye bye-laws zao,k.m. kuhakikisha kuwa kuna site meetings ambazo zinaendeshwa na wataalamu wanaotambuliwa kisheria.
e) sisi wananchi kwa kukubali hali hii iendelee bila kuwabana madiwani wetu wachukue hatua zinazostahili.

Mimi sidhani ni sahihi kuwalaumu hao mnaowaita wahindi kwa kutoa rushwa. Wakulaumiwa ni sisi tuliopewa dhamana ya kusimamia sekta hii na kushindwa kufanya hivyo aidha kwa sababu ni wazembe au kuendekeza rushwa. Hauwezi kulaumu watu kwa mtongoza mwali wako bali ni kumwelekeza mwanao kuwa sio wote wamtongozae wana nia nzuri na yeye. Tunajulikana kuwa kwa kiasi kidogo tuko tayari kufumbia macho mapunguvu kwa hiyo kwa nini mtu asipenyeze rupia ili lengo lake litimie kirahisi? Wenye matatizo ni sisi na sio hao wanaotoa rushwa, wahindi, wazungu, waarabu na naam waswahili wenzetu!

 

[Fundi Mchundo]

Asante mwaikimbi kwa analysis yako. Kuna jambo moja ambalo hata kama viwango vyote vya ujenzi vimefuatwa, jengo na hasa kama ni refu litaporomoka ikiwa hakuna "Verticality control" na kusababisha nguzo kupinda. Sasa ni mtaalamu gani anaye"control' verticality ya jengo? Lazima niseme ukweli kwamba A Professional and qualified Land Surveyor ndiye mtaalamu wa verticality control na ndiye anayejua quality assurance ya unyofu wa jengo kwenda juu (Verticality) hasa kwa majengi marefu. Kwa bahati mbaya katika fani ya uhandisi na ujenzi nchini Tanzania, Land Surveyor ni mtu ambaye hathaminiwi na huonekana kama kibarua tu.

Nini hutokea kwa miradi inayohitaji utaalamu kama hiyo, mara nyingi contaractors wanawachukua "technicians" na kuwafanya surveyors na wakati mwingine "civil engineering technicians' hutumika kama land surveyor. guess what will hapen.

Kwa hiyo katika kujadili suala hili ni lazime ijulikane ni jinsi gani verticality ya jengo ilikuwa controlled na nani alikuwa anafanya hiyo kazi na kwa kutumia vifaa gani na qualification yake.

Hapa lazima nisisitize pamoja na wanataaluma wote wanaohusika katika mabo ya ujenzi wa majengo marefu kwamba "Quality assurance of verticality of high rise building can only be controlled by a qualified and experienced land surveyor" and using high precision survey equipments. Contrary to this, you risk bending of the building, which can lead to collapse.

Cheap is expensive!

Mkuu, Ngereja. With all due respect, land surveyor hahusiki hapa kabisa! Wakunyongwa wapo wengi lakini huyo hayumo! Labda kwa kupima kiwanja kwenye sehemu isiyostahili!

 

[Mtaalam]

kama kawaida yetu wa tanzania imeundwa tume kuchunguza....hehehe i love dis country...zianze undwa tume kuchunguza vibaka waibao mitaani pia as to kwanini wanaiba!!

 

[Dua]

Anyway, tayari Municipal Engineer kakamatwa na wale waliokuwa wanatazama thru ITV wameona akikamatwa live na kuchukuliwa palepale.

Hii ndiyo Bongo!

Sasa huyu wamemuweka ndani yeye ndio alikuwa anasimamia hilo jengo?

Mlio bongo yaani mmeshindwa kusoma kibao kujua nani ni engineers wa hilo jengo? Contractor na Client?

 

[Ngereja]

Pengine habari hii itawapa fununu nani walihuska katika usanifu, ujenzi na mmiliki wa jengo.

"...Utambulisho huo unaonyesha kuwa Kampuni ya Jeam Associates ilisanifu jengo hilo wakati uhandisi wa michoro ulifanywa na Kampuni ya Codec, kazi za ukandarasi ziliongozwa na Kampuni ya N. K Decorators na uhandisi wa umeme ulifanywa na Kampuni ya Low Voltage Distributors, zote za Dar es Salaam.

Hadi jana jioni polisi walikuwa wakiendelea kumhoji mmiliki wa jengo hilo, aliyetajwa kuwa mmiliki wa kampuni ya Maxons Limited. Kamanda wa Polisi Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam, Suleiman Kova alisema polisi pia walikuwa wanamhoji Mhandisi wa Manispaa ya Ilala aliyetajwa kwa jina la Robert Masollo.
..."

Source: HabariLeo

 

[Augustoons]

Asante Ngereja,Daily News nao wanasema hivi:
Home News More in this Category!
One missing as Dar building collapses
ANNE ROBI
Daily News; Saturday,June 21, 2008 @19:01


Three people were seriously injured and another is reported missing after a 10-storey building collapsed in Dar es Salaam today. The building collapsed today at around 11 am but was reported to be gradually sinking since Friday. Police are holding the Acting Ilala Municipal Council engineer, Mr Nassoro Robert for questioning.

The cause for the collapse is yet to be established. Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Suleiman Kova said today that the police had also questioned the owner of the property, Mr Muhsin Somji (52) and that they were still looking for the contractor (name withheld).

The building, a proposed commercial structure on Plot Number 9 at Mtendeni Street within the city’s central business district, fell on a 2-storey building that housed a furniture and carpet shop on Plot Number 10 whose owner, Mr Ajay Lahkshan, said four people were in the shop when the incident occurred.

Three of them were rescued and the third victim - identified as Shamte - is considered missing. Those rescued are Ms Sharifa Juma, Ms Halima Seleman and Mama Lubabwe, all of whom were taken to separate hospitals - Ms Juma and Ms Seleman were taken to Muhimbili and Lubabwe to the Agakhan hospital.

According to a billboard on the site of the collapsed building, the main contractor was listed as N.K. Decorators, the architect as JEAM Associates and the structural engineer as CODEC. The client is McSoms Investment Ltd.

The Registrar of the Contractors Registration Board (CRB), Mr Boniface Muhegi, said that the contractor has been legally registered by his board and that it was too early to speculate who is to take the blame. “There are so many things that need to be looked at, there are many people that have a role to play and what really went wrong can only be established by a thorough investigation,” he said.

Engineers Registration Board (ERB) Registrar, Mr Ramo Makani, told this paper that the consulting engineer was also legally registered by his board – but also added it was too early to comment anything. “Building has its process that includes the municipal council inspecting every stage of construction before giving any go-ahead for another stage.

It will take time to establish what really happened,” he said. The architect, JEAM Associates, is also legally registered by the Architect and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (AQRB), the board’s registrar Mr Abraham Marress told the 'Daily News' today.

The Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlement, Mr John Chiligati, said that he had not been filled in with details of the incident and asked to be given more time to look into the matter. According to Mr Kova, police have already launched an investigation into the matter but would not give further details.

On March 17, 2006 a four-storey building collapsed in Chang’ombe, Dar es Salaam, killing one person. Following the accident, the then premier Mr Edward Lowassa formed a committee of stakeholders and experts to inspect all buildings in the city, completed and those under construction. The purpose of the inspection was to ensure that all buildings meet the required standards to avoid incidents of high-rise buildings collapsing. The team’s report is yet to be made public.