Govt in crisis meeting over Loliondo saga
Send to a friend Wednesday, 23 March 2011 23:29
Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office,Mr William Lukuvi
By Zephania Ubwani
The Citizen Bureau ChiefArusha: A senior Cabinet minister was last night still chairing an emergency closed-door meeting with administrators and security chiefs from seven regions on how to deal with safety fears over the continuing influx of the Loliondo miracle cure seekers.
Mr William Lukuvi, the Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office, in charge of Policy, Co-ordination and the National Assembly, arrived in the northern city, apparently in response to mounting concern over the large numbers of people headed for Samunge Village and the hundreds of motor vehicles still stuck there following torrential rains.
The minister, who chaired the meeting at the Arusha District Commissioner's office from early yesterday morning, could not be reached for comment on the measures the government intends to take to address the crisis.
Sources said Mr Lukuvi had summoned top officials from Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Shinyanga, Mwanza, Mara and Singida regions to the meeting, as the government grappled with the problem.
Of particular concern to the authorities is the rising number of patients reportedly dying in the queues of vehicles stretching back over 20km from the pastors home. The Citizen team saw at least five bodies on Tuesday and yesterday. The problems cited are lack of food, water and toilets the perfect recipe for epidemics.
The victims are among the thousands who have sought remedies for their critical illnesses from retired Lutheran Church pastor Ambikile Mwasapile, 76, who dispenses herbal medicine.
The government officials were reportedly deliberating on the means and ways to forestall a looming humanitarian crisis in the tiny remote village, with the sick and their relatives having ignored repeated appeals to delay their trips, until proper amenities are provided and those still in Loliondo are able to get out.
Arusha regional commissioner Isidore Shirima said: "Our main concern is how to address the deteriorating situation in Samunge Village either by blocking the vehicles taking people there or using any other means."
He told The Citizen before the meeting resumed at around 7pm that the situation in Loliondo was pathetic and getting worse day after day.
He said hundreds of vehicles continued to ferry the sick to the village, over 400km from Arusha.
On Tuesday, Mr Shirima had announced that the government would restrict traffic to Samunge in a bid to avert a health catastrophe.
Yesterday, he reiterated that the key concern was the possibility of an outbreak of communicable diseases due to the poor sanitation, worsened by the rains that have been pounding the area since last week.
"We are looking at the possibility of reducing the congestion at Samunge. That is our only agenda, he said, of the meeting being attended by regional police chiefs and their assistants, security and other officials involved in disaster management from the various regions.
Mr Shirima could not say how many people have died since the rush to Loliondo peaked nearly a month ago.
On March 8, Ngorongoro District Commissioner Elias Wawa Lali reported that six people had died in the queue before being attended to by the Rev Mwasapile, who claims to use divine powers to treat people suffering from chronic diseases.
More deaths have been reported since then, as more and more people take their sick relatives there to drink a cupful of the herbal concoction offered by the healer.
Last weekend, there were alarming reports that up to 10 people had died after being rushed to the healer from their hospital beds, while in critical condition or a result of the fatigue from the tortuous journey and the many days they spent waiting in the long queues.
The increased traffic to Loliondo, through the dirt road that passes near Lake Natron and Oldonyo Lengai Mountain, has also seen its share road accidents, which until last week had claimed eight lives, according to the police.
Yesterday, the Arusha RC said the crisis meeting would probably continue until this morning. "Whatever we decide will be made public. The media will be briefed on measures to be taken to address the crisis, he pledged.
Despite reports of many vehicles stuck on the way to or from the traditional healer's village, more vehicles continued to leave Arusha for Loliondo.
A survey by The Citizen last night revealed that scores of people, mainly from outside Arusha, were queuing near the central bus station to buy tickets to Loliondo."People are still going to Loliondo despite reports of many who have been stuck there for days," a taxi driver said. Some people were using the longer route to Loliondo through the Serengeti Plains.
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#6 Sune 2011-03-24 09:13 Watch Part 1 of this Kenyan report on Loliondo. At the very end listen to what the doctor has to say about people getting healed...I'm sure Part 2 will be even more interesting.
YouTube - The Loliondo Wonder Pt. 1
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#5 Emma 2011-03-24 07:30
You realize how crazy the human race can be. Just have a little bit of Psychology, philosophy, anthropology knowledge, you will understand what is going on in Loliondo, Arusha, TZ
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#4 jiga 2011-03-24 06:51 lets buld roads and monuments around Loliondo. we can make it the Mecca of Africa. More dollars from healing tourism how about that. we need to market it well. people will come from all around the world just like they go to vetican city to see the pop and mecca for hajj and israel. this is our chance to take to the bank. come on Government channgamkia kidogo. lol
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#3 Doctor No 2011-03-24 05:51 With the population of patients keep grown like mushroom, mordern bathrooms,tents , water and ligh utilities need to be priorities as much as the gvt does to priorities fun for small election. Open police station and maintain security to be as tighy as drum! Control foods vending to make sure they meet health standars. Some people will take advantage to sell dog and snake that could put people in more health hazard.Short of doing that, the gvt will find itself putting lipstic in pig's mouth!
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#2 Dzemba Dzemba 2011-03-24 05:40 This is a very uplifting move and hopeful the gvt will come up with a good solution. Good job bill Lukuvi!Stomach has no window, we never know how much would people with lifelong illness are going to benefit from Mchungaji's miracle's maximum cure. So let us constract a good livable envinroments upon which people would feel confortable to dwell. Under chama chashika hatamu the cadres would open tawi la chama at mchungaji's house but at this age of democracy the government is working hard to see patients meet basic need. That is the most humorous action!
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#1 Shammah 2011-03-24 00:52 I think that's a right move, not a bad one. I plead with the government and other organisations to device means to facilitate the healing given by our mzee.
I believe in the healing provided by the retired pastor. Its not a matter to be judged by political or religious/denominations factors. Let everybody who believes go there, and the rest keep quiet, just like how we do concerning the other witchdoctors.
We,Tanzanians, are the ones to build our country. Let's unite!
Peace be upon Tanzania.