Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE police force has formed a special task that is to investigate the sources of fires in schools, warning that any suspect of sabotage or negligence will be taken to court.
Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Camilius Wambura while addressing reporters here yesterday said that the task force comprised of national power utility (Tanesco), the police force and Tanzania Fire and Rescue Service force representatives.
The move aimed at addressing increasing incidents of schools being gutted by fire, thus directing heads of schools countrywide to be extra careful in cross checking the trend.
Moreover, he said the Regional and Local Government authorities have been directed to ensure they conduct regular checks of schools’ electric infrastructures because most of the schools gutted by fires are those with old infrastructures. He gave the directive following fire incidents in secondary schools, citing the AT Town Girls secondary school whose dormitory was gutted by fire on Sunday evening.
Moreover, he said it has come to their attention that most of the fire incidents happened a few days after the students returned from their holidays, saying chances are they might be having gadgets which can cause short circuits.
“When students are back, the school’s administration must make a close check up on students to make sure they do not have with them gadgets like chargers, rechargeable torches, water heaters among others which might be the source of fire eruption” he insisted He said school authorities must work closely with the police and district police officers in their respective areas for quick and timely interventions.
Moreover, he called for school authorities to engage the people surrounding the schools as they might be having crucial information in detecting and supporting them when such fire erupts.
