Tanzanian president sacks transport regulators

By Munira Abdelmenan Awel

ANKARA (AA) - Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Monday dismissed regulators of the country's transport authority.

According to a statement from State House, the president revoked the Surface and Maritime Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) board of directors due to last week’s ferry disaster in Lake Victoria which claimed 224 lives.

"President Magufuli has made the decision following the capsizing of MV Nyerere which occurred on September 20 and the trend of road accidents that have caused death, disability, and damaged property," the statement reads.

On Thursday, the ferry MV Nyerere capsized near the Tanzanian city of Mwanza while en route from Ukara to Bugolora.

On Saturday, Magufuli declared three days of national mourning and said the ferry captain had been arrested because he was not in the boat when it capsized.

Members of an inquiry committee are expected to be announced by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to investigate the cause of incident.