ACT Wazalendo has questioned the government’s preparedness for the El Niño rains expected between October and December, warning that inadequate preparations could expose communities to floods, displacement and damage to critical infrastructure.
The party said yesterday that preparations were falling short of the scale of the threat, drawing parallels with the 2023/24 rainy season when floods and landslides caused deaths and extensive damage to roads, bridges, schools and health facilities.
The concerns come after the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) warned on August 18 of above-normal rainfall in several parts of the country, including Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Pwani, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Kagera, Geita, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Simiyu and Mara, as well as Unguja, Pemba, Mafia and parts of Morogoro and northern Kigoma.
ACT Wazalendo said the anticipated rains could have far-reaching consequences for agriculture and food security, livestock, fishing, transport, tourism, construction, energy, water, mining, healthcare and businesses.
The party’s biggest concern, however, is whether adequate resources have actually been committed to the response.
It pointed to what it described as conflicting statements from government officials over the amount available for preparations.
Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has cited Sh730 billion, while Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prof Palamagamba Kabudi said Sh10 billion had been directly allocated, with the Sh730 billion referring to funds the government plans to mobilise from institutions and development partners.
ACT Wazalendo said the difference raised questions about the government’s actual financial preparedness.
It also argued that even Sh730 billion would need to be assessed against the potential scale of the disaster, particularly given the possible impact on infrastructure, food supplies and emergency services.
The party challenged the government to disclose what practical measures have been taken since receiving early warnings.
It asked how many kilometres of drainage channels have been cleared or expanded, how many culverts and bridges have been repaired, how many high-risk areas have been identified and how many households have been prepared for possible evacuation.
“The question is what the government itself has done during this period of warning,” the party said, arguing that public calls for residents to clear drainage channels and take precautions should be matched by visible government action.
ACT Wazalendo also raised concerns over emergency health preparedness, including the availability of medicines, medical equipment and safe areas where people displaced by floods could be accommodated.
On food security, it said the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) should be adequately funded to purchase and store sufficient stocks for use in emergencies.
The party said Tanzania should draw lessons from the 2023/24 experience, when more than 100,000 families in Manyara, Arusha, Morogoro, Lindi, Pwani and Iringa reportedly required assistance following floods and other weather-related disasters.
It also said some infrastructure damaged during the previous disasters had yet to be fully repaired, citing the Dar es Salaam-Lindi and Nanguruku-Liwale roads.
The opposition party further questioned whether sufficient lessons had been learnt from the 2024 flooding in the Rufiji Basin, where communities lost homes, farms and property.
It said the experience, including the challenges associated with excess water in the Rufiji Basin, underscored the need for stronger flood-control measures before another major rainfall event.
ACT Wazalendo has proposed the formation of a special national disaster response team involving the President’s Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), the Prime Minister’s Office and TMA.
The team would coordinate and monitor preparedness by ministries, regions, districts and local government authorities.
The party also wants more resources directed to NFRA, arguing that unnecessary and non-essential government spending should be reduced to free funds for disaster preparedness.
It has called on regions and districts to identify and publicly announce high-risk areas, establish safe evacuation centres and strengthen early-warning campaigns targeting residents, farmers, livestock keepers and fishermen.
The government should also accelerate repairs to roads, bridges and culverts and clear drainage systems before the rains begin, the party said.
Mining areas should receive particular attention, with authorities urged to suspend activities temporarily in high-risk areas where necessary and require mine operators to reinforce embankments and establish safe drainage systems.
ACT Wazalendo also called for additional medical and rescue capacity, including adequate medicines and equipment, emergency camps, helicopters, boats, life jackets and other rescue gear.
It urged leaders at all levels to remain on the ground in vulnerable areas and act before disasters strike rather than waiting for their consequences.
The party’s central message is that early warnings should translate into measurable action, funding and preparedness before the first major rains arrive.