DAR S SALAAM, Jan. 11 — Five local journalists were among 14 people killed in a road accident Tuesday in Tanzania’s northern region of Simiyu.
Blasius Chatanda, the Simiyu regional police commander, said the accident occurred at 6:25 a.m., a local time when a government vehicle ferrying the journalists collided head-on with a mini-bus at Kalemela village in Busega district.
“Seven of the dead were traveling in the government vehicle and another seven were passengers in the mini-bus,” Chatanda told Xinhua in a telephone interview, adding that 11 of the victims died on the spot and three others died at a health center where they were rushed to for treatment.
He said the five journalists based in Mwanza region and their driver were in the Mwanza regional commissioner’s entourage to Ukerewe district to inspect development projects, including the construction of classrooms. The mini-bus was heading to Mwanza from Ramadi.
Investigations were underway to establish the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, President Samia Suluhu Hassan sent a condolence message to the bereaved families following the grisly accident. (Xinhua)
Five local journalists among 14 killed in road accident in northern Tanzania
