Tanzania mulls reconstruction of houses destroyed by hailstorms

Tanzanian authorities are considering the reconstruction of more than 300 houses in the northern Shinyanga region destroyed by hailstorms last year.

The houses in Kahama district were destroyed in March last year during the natural disaser, which also killed 45 people and rendered more than 600 families homeless.

The authorities announced on Thursday that about 1.25 million U.S. dollars were needed to reconstruct the houses.

Addressing the National Assembly in the political capital Dodoma, Abdallah Possi, the Deputy Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Employment and Persons with Disabilities, said the amount has been calculated following a cost evaluation which was made after the completion of the reconstruction of one house.

During a tour of one of the affected villages, former President Jakaya Kikwete promised the victims that the government would reconstruct all houses that were destroyed by the storm.

However, Possi did not tell the National Assembly when the government would secure the needed funds for the reconstruction of the houses as promised over a year ago. 

Source: XINHUA