Diplomats, businessmen donate 700,000 USD to Tanzania quake victims

Members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Tanzania and the business community on Tuesday contributed about 700,000 U.S. dollars and other relief supplies to help Tanzania's quake victims.

A total of 323,000 dollars was contributed in cash and 350,000 dollars was in pledges made during an event organized by Tanzanian Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Among donors at the event, the Chinese Embassy pledged 50,000 dollars. Chinese companies doing business in Tanzania also pledged 70,000 dollars.

An earthquake, measuring at a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale, hit the Tanzania's Kagera region on Saturday. It left 17 people dead and over 200 injured, while thousands of houses were damaged.

Majaliwa thanked the diplomats and business community, saying the government was trying its best to respond to the tragedy and ensure everything was put in order to rectify the situation.

Zimbabwean High Commissioner to Tanzania, Edgar Chimonyo, who is also head of the diplomatic corps in Tanzania, said the diplomatic community was saddened with the loss of lives and property caused by the disaster, and they will work hand in hand with the government to ensure the situation improved.

Majaliwa, who visited Kagera region on Sunday, said a team of experts from the government's Department of Disaster Management will assess the damage caused by the earthquake and offer needed assistance.

He also said the government will seek technical intelligence from international meteorological organizations to establish whether such an earthquake will hit the areas in future.

On Sunday, President John Magufuli sent condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for those who were injured to regain their health through speedy recovery. Enditem