By James Kamala
Disturbing news about road accidents is, unfortunately, a regular occurrence in Tanzania, but there are moments when the shock of such tragedies reaches new heights. This was one of those moments.
On Sunday, April 13th, 2025, the Tanzanian public awoke to the heartbreaking news that Mr. Boniface Gissima Nyamohanga, the Managing Director of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco), had tragically lost his life in a road accident.
He wasn’t the only victim; his driver, Mr. Muhajiri Mohammed Haule, also perished in the collision. While the loss of such a high-profile figure stirs emotions, it’s crucial to remember that road carnage doesn’t discriminate.
Yes, Mr. Nyamohanga’s death sends shockwaves through the nation, given his prominent role in shaping Tanzania’s energy future, but the reality is that countless others, nameless and faceless, lose their lives on these same roads every day.
Whether it’s a government official, a teacher, or a farmer, the pain and sorrow are the same for every family affected. In that sense, his tragic passing is a stark reminder that road accidents are a crisis that touches all layers of Tanzanian society, not just the high-profile individuals.
The accident took place in the Bunda District of the Mara Region, where initial reports suggest the Land Cruiser collided with a truck. The driver swerved to avoid hitting a cyclist on the poorly lit road, but in the process, a head-on collision occurred.
This event has reignited the debate on road safety in Tanzania, where inadequate infrastructure and reckless driving continue to claim innocent lives. For many, the incident feels all too familiar. Over the years, the country has witnessed an alarming rise in road fatalities, with every new accident serving as a grim reminder of how unsafe our roads remain.
On social media, some commentators blamed the cyclist, who was riding without reflective gear or any safety precautions late at night. It’s a valid point, especially in rural Tanzania, where cyclists are often untrained and unaware of basic road rules. But this blame is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.
Yes, cyclists have a role in making the roads safer, but we must also consider the road conditions that contribute to these accidents. Potholes, faded signs, and poor lighting make it far too easy for minor driving errors to turn into life-altering or even life-ending accidents. These issues aren’t new, but they’ve been allowed to fester without adequate intervention.
It’s also impossible to ignore the spiritual and cultural dimensions in all of this. In certain African thinking, there’s a belief that misfortunes like road accidents are sometimes seen as inevitable, almost predestined, as though they are part of a larger cosmic plan.
This fatalistic view can undermine efforts to address the issue more proactively. But the truth is, road accidents aren’t inevitable; they are preventable. A failure to address the root causes—poor infrastructure, reckless driving, lack of education—would be a betrayal of the countless lives lost on these roads. We owe it to the victims, all of them, to see that change is not just a dream but a necessity.
Data from the Tanzania Traffic Police Department paints a bleak picture: In 2023, the country recorded over 8,700 accidents, resulting in 3,600 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries. The causes, as usual, range from speeding and reckless driving to poorly maintained vehicles and unforeseen obstacles.
This tragic event involving Mr. Nyamohanga only highlights the broader societal issue that we have yet to effectively tackle. It’s a stark reminder of the dangers every Tanzanian faces on the road, whether they are behind the wheel, walking, or riding a bike.
Perhaps the most heart-wrenching aspect of this loss is the gap left in leadership. Mr. Nyamohanga wasn’t just a figurehead; he was driving Tanesco’s critical mission to expand electricity access to underserved areas. His sudden departure creates a vacuum, threatening to derail progress in a sector vital to Tanzania’s economic development.
But beyond the leadership void, there’s also the loss of a life—a person with family, friends, and loved ones—who, in the blink of an eye, became another statistic in a long list of victims of the country’s road safety crisis.
The conversation around road safety in Tanzania is far from new, yet it remains as urgent as ever. Every year, countless lives are lost due to poor infrastructure, lack of awareness, and reckless behavior. Yet, the message doesn’t seem to sink in. It’s as though the nation, for all its economic growth and promise, has failed to truly address this issue head-on. In the wake of Mr. Nyamohanga’s death, we are reminded that road safety cannot be an afterthought—it must be a national priority.
To honor the memory of those lost, including Mr. Nyamohanga, we need to demand change. This isn’t just about improving roads or tightening traffic laws; it’s about a collective mindset shift. It’s about recognizing that road safety is not just an individual responsibility but a societal one.
We must come together to demand better roads, more education, stricter enforcement of laws, and greater awareness for all road users. Only then can we begin to reverse the tragic trends that continue to claim so many lives. The time for complacency is over. For the sake of every Tanzanian, it’s time to make our roads safer.