An outspoken Member of Parliament for Ludewa constituency in Njombe region, Deo Filikunjombe, has died after a helicopter he was travelling in crashed in Selous Game Reserve on Thursday.
He becomes the sixth parliamentary candidate to pass away since election campaigns kicked off in late August, this year.
Police Commissioner of Operations and Training, Paul Chagonja, yesterday afternoon spoke to Radio One confirming the accident. He said the helicopter burst into flames after crashing, killing all the people on board.
However, Commissioner Chagonja could not give details about the number of passengers who were on board.
Reports received as we went to press said that bodies of the crash victims arrived at Dar es Salaam International Airport yesterday evening.
Outgoing Kigoma North lawmaker and ACT-Wazalendo party leader, Zitto Kabwe, told our reporter that the bodies were burnt beyond recognition, adding that only the body of Filikunjombe could be identified from his wristwatch on his hand.
He said the bodies would be taken to Lugalo Military Hospital for preservation.
Meanwhile, Ukonga CCM parliamentary candidate, Jerry Silaa, posted on his Instagram page yesterday, saying he lost his father in the accident. His father, Captain William Silaa, was the pilot of the ill-fated chopper. “With deep sorrow I have received official information from the rescue team that arrived at the scene of the accident that all passengers aboard the helicopter and the pilot perished.
“I have lost my father, who was one of the best pilots in the country, Captain Willian Silaa. I have lost a friend and a leader, Deo Filikunjombe. I would like to send my condolences to all who have lost their loved ones. May their souls rest in eternal peace,” Silaa wrote.
Silaa thanked President Jakaya Kikwete, IGP Ernest Mangu, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Adelhelm Meru, Everest Aviation Company, members of Parliament, Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) officials and district commissioners and other individuals involved in the rescue operation.
Earlier on, Silaa alerted the public on the accident, saying: “My father, Capt. William Silaa, accompanied by Deo Filikunjombe and other passengers, experienced technical problems in their chopper’s engine, with registration number 5Y-DKK, on Thursday evening as they were flying from Dar es Salaam to Ludewa,” Silaa posted on his Instagram page.
He added; “According to the final report I received, the chopper crashed in Selous Game Reserve”.
Filikunjombe was one of a few CCM members who were firm in the National Assembly for defending what they believed in.
He would be remembered for waging war in and outside Parliament against corrupt high profile government officials. On several occasions he differed with MPs from his political party for defending what he believed in.
His untimely death is a huge blow not only to his family members, but also to his electorate and the general public, given the fact that he placed public interest above everything else.
In his capacity as deputy chair of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Filikunjombe stood firm against government officials who were implicated in the Tegeta Escrow Account saga.
Filikunjombe was first elected member of Parliament for Ludewa constituency in 2010. Before joining active politics in 2010, he worked as communications manager for World Vision Tanzania.
It should be noted that Filikunjombe, at some point, worked as a correspondent for Radio One Stereo.bHe was born on March 4, 1972.
The late Deo Filikunjombe becomes the third CCM candidate to die, proceeded by Minister for Trade and Industry, Abdalla Kigoda, who vied for the Handeni constituency, and Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service Management), Celina Kombani, who was vying for Ulanga East constituency.
Filikunjombe becomes the sixth parliamentary candidate to pass away. Others are ACT- Wazalendo Arusha Urban candidate Estomih Mallah, Chadema candidate for Lushoto Urban, Mohammed Mtoi, and NLD candidate for Masasi constituency, Emmanuel Makaidi.SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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