Marine police accuse boat operators over delayed rescue tip

Nkhata Bay Marine Police have accused boat operators for delayed reports on the recent sinking of MV Mapeza with 12 passengers on board. The vessel was owned by Tanzanian Dulla Zuberi.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Inspector Golden Juma, who heads the marine department at Nkhata Bay Police Station, said they received reports of the incident around 8am, when the disaster occurred about five hours earlier.

“They had been communicating with fellow operators at a good time, but we were not communicated as require, we are very disappointed with such a development. I believe these lives could have been rescued from such a disaster”.

I know some would say they didn’t have our contacts, but the relatives they had been communicating to could have tipped us,” said Juma

He further bashed reports that his department is reactive in its operations, saying they always carry out routine inspection on boats before they set sail as a security measure against such tragedies.

Meanwhile, as the search is ongoing, the Tanzanian divers have found no bodies besides two cases of Vaseline powder discovered two days ago floating on the waters.