BY TOBIAS CHANJI
A man escaped death by a whisker on Monday morning when a lorry he was driving plunged into the Indian Ocean at Shimoni jetty.
The driver survived after he jumped off the truck before it plunged into the ocean with part of the consignment.
It was ferrying cargo to be loaded onto a boat for shipment.
Witnesses said the truck’s brakes failed after the goods had been packed.
The lorry was said to be carrying scrap metal but other sources claimed it was macadamia nuts.
“Because the jetty is too old it could not support the lorry. The scrap metal was allegedly transported from Pemba. But there is information that they were macadamia nuts,” said Fadhili Omar, a boat operator.
Fadhili further added that for a long time he had complained about the old jetty to various authorities but no action has been taken.
He asked to be compensated for his boat which he said was his only asset, but was grateful that the boat’s engine did not submerge.
