Tanzanian VP to lead mourners to pay last respect for school bus accident victims

Tanzanian Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan is on Monday expected to lead mourners in public viewing and paying last respects to Arusha school bus accident victims.

The mournful event will take place at the Sheikh Amri Abeid stadium at the heart of Arusha city, according to Mrisho Gambo, Arusha Regional Commissioner.

He said that the Vice President will be accompanied by ministers, senior government officials and members of Parliament.

Gambo said that earlier, the event was planned for Sunday, but it was suspended until Monday to provide room for more people to take part in the event.

Severine Lasway, chairman of a school board of directors, told reporters here that death toll for the accident rose to 36 people including 33 pupils, two teachers, and a driver.

Previous reports said that there were 35 people onboard the bus, however counting after the rescue showed that there were more passengers.

A number of families in Arusha were in deep grief as of Sunday, whereby women were wailing in disbelief, while the men spoke in hush tones about the death of their children.

The final year primary pupils were on their way to sit mock examinations ahead of seeking places at secondary school.

The accident happened early on Saturday when the bus went off the road and into the Marera river gorge in Karatu district near the northern Tanzania's safari capital of Arusha. Endit