DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 30 -- WE must understand that the ongoing heavy rains across large parts of the country are not just another seasonal inconvenience; they are a clear and present danger that demands serious public attention.

To begin with, Government agencies, led by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) and supported by the Transport Ministry and the Prime Ministers Office, have issued repeated warnings and updates about the intensifying rainfall.

These alerts are not issued for formalitys sake. They are intended to save lives, protect property and prevent avoidable tragedies. Here, flooding has already disrupted critical transport infrastructure, including railways, highways and power systems.

Sections of railway lines have ...