President Jakaya Kikwete tours Mwakata Village in Kahama District on Thursday. A hailstorm hit the area, killing people and sweeping away properties. The president said the government would reconstruct 403 damaged houses.
The government will construct all 403 houses which were destroyed by a hailstorm at Mwakata Village in Kahama District recently, President Jakaya Kikwete has said. The flooding has rendered 649 families homeless.
President Kikwete made the remarks on Thursday when he visited the village to witness the damage and console those who were affected. President Kikwete said the government would spend up to Sh2 billion on constructing the houses.
Addressing a rally at the village, President Kikwete told the victims to remain calm because the government was aware of their predicament and it was doing all within its powers to ensure that their lives were restored to normal.
"Among the things the government will do is to construct all the damaged houses. National Service will undertake this responsibility and there is no need to float a tender for this work," he said.
"I believe that because it is done by the army this work will be accomplished within a short time and it will not be substandard," he said.
He said the government would also ensure that all the victims get food relief until they harvest enough food to fend for themselves.
He asked them not to regard the incident as caused by witchcraft. "This is just an abnormal weather pattern. There is no witchcraft in this," he insisted.
Earlier, Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Ally Rufunga, told President Kikwete that 47 people were killed, 2,332 acres of various food and cash crops and 53 water wells were destroyed.
He said until now various well-wishers had offered Sh64 million, 63 tonnes of maize flour, 1,000 iron sheets and other humanitarian aid 
