BUBUBU RAILWAY (RELI YA BUBUBU ZANZIBAR )

More than 100 years ago, one could have heard a train slowly rolling through the villages of Zanzibar when the island played host to the first steam locomotive in East Africa.

In 1904 the Zanzibar Government signed a contract with the American firm, Arnold Cheney and Co. to build the famous Bububu Railway. A tiny steam engine ran along a light railway, approximately seven miles long from the Arab Fort in Zanzibar Town, before passing the sea front and reaching the coastal village of Bububu.

The service was most popular and very useful during a period where roads were less established on the island. It was largely used by the native population as a mode of transport while providing a constant source of wonderment for passing crowds. Those wishing to catch a glimpse of the island could use a special first-class coach.

Surprisingly, the railway became an important part of the general electrification of the island.

During its construction the Americans undertook the task of installing electrical power lines along the track. Wherever the rails were placed, metal poles were installed and power lines strung overhead. By 1906, long before even London obtained them, Stone Town had electric street lights.

In 1911, the railway was sold to the Government, and by 1922 the passenger service ceased. As roads improved and motor vehicles on the island increased, its popularity diminished. Consequently, the railway was then converted into an important component for the haulage of stone which was used to build the port and helped reclaim the sea- front. After 25 years of operation the railway was closed in 1930.

Today the Bububu railway no longer exists as result of growth and development on the island. However, train enthusiasts can still see remnants of the railway’s bridges and embankments from Zanzibar’s main roads.

SWAHILI VERSION

Zaidi ya miaka mia moja iliyopita, mtu aliweza kuisikia treni Taratibu  ikikata mitaa na vijiji vya Zanzibar, wakati huo Zanzibar ikiwa  ni  Nchi ya kwanza  kuwa na treni katika ukanda wa  Afrika ya Mashariki. Mwaka 1904 Serikali ya Zanzibar ilisaini mkataba na kampuni ya Kimarekani iitwayo Arnold Cheney and Co  na kujenga reli hyio maarufu iitwayo Bububu railway. Reli hiyo ndogo ya steam yenye barabara ya makisio ya maili saba kutoka kwenye ngome ya Sultani mjini Zanzibar, ilipita  katika mwambao wa bahari kabla kufika katika kijiji kilichokuwa karibu na bahari cha Bububu. 

Huduma hiyo ilikuwa ni maarufu na yenye manufaa sana wakati huo ambapo barabara zilikuwa hazijawa nzuri kisiwani humo. Huduma hiyo ilitumiwa vyema na wakaazi wa Zanzibar kama njia kuu ya usafiri na pamoja na kuwa kivutio kikuu kwa wapita njia. Kwa wale ambao walitaka kuona mandhari ya visiwa waliweza kutumia behewa la sehemu ya kwanza (first class). Kwa mshangao pia reli hii ilitumika katika kueneza teknolojia ya umeme katika visiwa hivi. Wakati wa ujenzi wake, kampuni hiyo ya Kimarekani ilikuwa na kazi ya kuweka waya za umeme pembezoni mwa reli hiyo.

Kila reli hiyo ilimopita pia nguzo za umeme za chuma ziliwekwa na nyaya kutundikwa juu yake. Katika mwaka 1906, hata kabla ya Uingereza kuwa na umeme, Zanzibar ilikuwa tayari ina taa za umeme za njiani. Mwaka 1911, reli hio iliuzwa kwa Serikali na mwaka 1922, huduma za abiria zikasimama. Miundombinu ya barabara ilipoimarika na ongezeko la vyombo vya usafiri barabarani, umaarufu wake ukapungua, na matokeo yake reli hiyo ikatumika zaidi katika uchukuzi wa mawe kujengea bandari, iliyosaidia kuongeza eneo la ardhi kutoka baharini.

Baada ya kudumu kwa miaka 25 huduma za reli hio zilisimama kabisa mwaka 1930. Hivi sasa reli ya Bububu haipo tena kutokana na kukua na maendeleo ya mji, lakini washabiki wa treni bado wanaweza kuona mabaki ya reli hio pembezoni mwa barabara.
 

DARAJA LA MUNGU(THE BRIDGE OF GOD)MBEYA TANZANIA

The Name “Daraja la Mungu”

is a Swahili word carrying the meaning “God’s Bridge”. This came from the fact that this bridge was naturally formed without any human engineering and yet remained ironic stronger till today. Scientific research believes that, the bridge’s formation is a product of powers of a fast flowing river down along the rocky valley, creating a hole through a hard surface hence leaving behind a rocky span that cuts across two sides of the river in the shape that looks exactly like a single lane bridge, big and strong enough to allow more than hundreds tons load across. Local people call this miracle 'Daraja la Mungu' for its providential existence and for the traditional beliefs attached it.The bridge spans a small waterfall at a distance not more than ten meters down the river and further south along the Kiriwa River are the pretty Kaporogwe Falls. Also nearby is Kijungu (Cooking Pot), where the river tumbles through a small rocky gorge creating heavy drop sounds of water several meters down. Residents call this pot-hole like feature “Kijungu” reflecting a Swahili word “chungu” which means a pot. Just before “Daraja-La-Mungu”,

SWAHILI VERSION
Daraja la Mungu 

Hili ni Daraja lililopo mkoani Mbeya na limeitwa hivi kwa maajabu yake kutokana na kutojengwa na wanaadamu na lipo mpaka leo . kwa Mujibu wa utafiti wa wanasayansi wanaaamini kuwa Daraja hili  lilitengenezwa kwa  maji yaliyokuwa yakitiririka kwa kasi zaidi kutoka upande mmoja hadi mwingine na kutengeneza upenyo ambao ulikuwa ukiliwa na maji na kutengeneza upenyo ambao umekuwa mkubwa kiasi cha kufanya Daraja .  Mwamba wa juu wa Daraja hilo unaweza kupitisha mamia ya watu, wemyeji wa mkoa Huuu wanaamini kuwa Daraja Hili limetengenezwa na Mungu Mwenyewe, Na  lipo umbali wa Mita Kumi kutoka chini  na kutoka kusini mwa Mto Kiriwa ni kiasi cha mita kumi pia kutoka maporomoko ya Kaporogwe. Hali kadhalika na Kijungu ambapo maji utiririka kwa kasi na kutengeneza sauti kubwa ya kelele za maji .