MTU MMOJA AFARIKI, 7 WAJERUHIWA KWA MLIPUKO WA BARUTI MWANZA.

ONE DEAD, 7 INJURED IN MWANZA DYNAMITE EXPLOSION One person has died and seven have been injured following a dynamite explosion that occurred today, 01.07.2026 at 12:46 am at a coffee shop in Sahwa ya Juu Street, Lwanhima Ward, Nyamagana District in Mwanza Region. According to a statement by the Mwanza Regional Police Commander, DCP Wilbrod Mutafungwa, the deceased in the accident was Marco Msenyere (52), a stone cutter and resident of Semba-Lwanhima. At the time of the incident, the deceased was with his colleagues drinking coffee in the shop with a small bag containing the dynamite. Explaining the cause of the incident, the Commander named the people who were injured in the incident. In addition, Commander Mutafungwa said that the cause of the explosion was negligence in handling the gunpowder as the deceased carried the gunpowder and sat with it near the charcoal stove that was burning in the coffee shop while clearly knowing that the gunpowder would explode if it got hot. In another step, Commander Mutafungwa has called on local government leaders and citizens to report to the Police Force about people who use and possess gunpowder without a permit while asking local chairmen to conduct inspections to identify such people in their streets. An officer from the Mwanza Regional Minerals Commission, Deus Makuli, said that it is a legal offence for anyone to possess gunpowder without a license and said that the deceased was possessing the gunpowder without a permit. ​​Some citizens, including Mahuma Mungu and Adili Atare who are residents of Lwanhima, have expressed their sadness over the incident and have promised to continue reporting on people using explosives to blast stones in their areas without valid permits so that legal action can be taken against them. ​The injured in the accident have been taken to Nyamagana District Hospital (Butimba) and one has been transferred to Bugando Zonal Referral Hospital for further treatment.