SGR sabotage: What Tanzania should do to protect railway

Dar es Salaam. The standard gauge railway (SGR), a landmark project intended to revolutionise Tanzania’s transportation sector, has of late been facing disruptions blamed on sabotage.

With police in Dodoma saying they have arrested at least six people on suspicion of damaging SGR infrastructure, analysts have proposed several ways of addressing the problem.

Dodoma Regional Police Commander George Katabazi told The Citizen that Said Sempinga, 39, and Michael Robert, 44, both residents of Kilosa in Morogoro Region, were among those in custody.

He said the two men were arrested after allegedly stealing copper cables from three railway bridges on the night of October 10 at Msagali Village in Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region.

“We were tipped off and with the help of local residents were able to arrest the suspects, who were in possession of copper cables stolen from the electric railway.”

The two suspects will appear in count once investigations are completed.

Mr Katabazi added that on October 8 in Bahi District, four suspects were arrested for allegedly damaging government infrastructure by cutting and stealing SGR copper cables.

He named them as Said Kipambwe, 38; Petro Yassi, 22; Michael Leyaseki, 27, and Issa Misami, 42, who have all appeared in court.

Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) director general Masanja Kadogosa said last week that SGR services were disrupted on a number of occasions after high-voltage cables were tampered with.

He charged that the sabotage was part of a wider campaign to discredit the multi-billion-dollar project.

Stakeholders have called for tougher security measures to protect the SGR and ensure reliable services at all times.

Dar es Salaam-based lawyer Onesmo Kyauke told The Citizen that what is happening points to declining patriotism among some Tanzanians.

“We expect that ordinary citizens would be at the forefront of protecting these projects of strategic importance,” he said, adding that there is a need for renewed public education on the importance of safeguarding national assets such as the SGR.

Mr Kyauke said people living in areas where the SGR passes through should be the first line of defence since they have also contributed to its construction as taxpayers.

He proposed that “exemplary” punishment be meted out on anyone found guilty of sabotaging and vandalising key infrastructure. Local governments should also establish community-centred security programmes specifically aimed at protecting key national assets such as the SGR.

“Those sabotaging important infrastructure should be made to pay for their dastardly deeds, which are causing the nation untold losses.”

Dr Wilhelm Ngasamiaku of the University of Dar es Salaam suggested that a small percentage of revenue from ticket sales be allocated to finance security along the SGR.

“A fund should be created to support community policing that will monitor and report any suspicious activity along the railway lines,” he said.

“The country has invested substantial resources and we must take deliberate and decisive measures to safeguard these investments. Those who are involved in sabotage are delaying our progress and that should not be tolerated.”

For his part, Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) national coordinator Onesmo Olengurumwa linked acts of sabotage along the SGR to broader societal issues such as poverty and ignorance.

“It’s part of a wider pattern of vandalisation of public assets in various sectors as evidenced by reports of people stealing oil from transformers oil, damaging rapid bus transit infrastructure and even vandalising fences at schools, churches and public buildings,” he said.

Mr Olengurumwa urged the ministries responsible for large projects to implement sector-specific security strategies to prevent recurring issues and emphasised the need for public education on the long-term consequences of such vandalism, which often leads to costly repairs and service delays.

“Education is urgently needed. We should educate people on why the SGR and other key national projects important as far as this country’s future is concerned.”

A sociologist from the Saint Augustine University of Tanzania, Ms Linah Kabula, called for police deployment in some areas along the SGR.

She suggested that regular police be stationed in high-risk areas, allowing community police to oversee less vulnerable sections.

“Focusing police resources on more vulnerable locations allows for more efficient use of our security capabilities,” Ms Kabula said.

The chairperson of Parliament’s Infrastructure Committee, Mr Selemani Kakoso, recommended the installation protective fencing and CCTV cameras along the entire SGR route.

“We strongly advise TRC to build fences and install CCTV cameras along the SGR route to protect this valuable investment,” he said during a recent parliamentary sitting.