Transporters react on Dr. Mwakyembe’s decision

THERE is a mixed reaction over the recent decision by the government it had issued in early August this year during Parliamentary budget discussion for the Ministry of transport against upcountry buses stopping en-route to enable passengers take a call of nature by the roadside. The ban was announced by the Minister for Transport Dr. Harisson Mwakyembe who cautioned drivers to immediately call off this habit with effect from this month onwards, or else stern measures would be taken against them. The reason for the ban, the minister reportedly said, is to honour and preserve an African tradition whereby anyone of the two genders, male and female must not see, hear and or otherwise be cognizant of what someone of the other gender is up to. Reacting over the issue, a cross section of the interviewed drivers have expressed their disappointment over the matter saying that, it wouldn’t be possible to drive all along the way without stopping for a brief to allow passengers and even themselves to run for a call of nature. However, they said that unless the government looks for other alternatives on how to help their passengers bearing in mind that, they usually travel long distances which covers thousands of miles spending between 12 to 15 hours counting for a day’s journey to reach their final destinations. In view of this, however, they have asked the minister to revert his order and look at the whole issue on the humanitarian grounds and judge for himself and see if it’s possible for a human being regardless of age to travel along the way for 12 to 15 hours without attending any call of nature. Hamidu Mkoka (45) a driver with Mwanza bound Zuberi bus service commented on the idea and suggested that, the government should build for them rest houses as it had promised earlier otherwise there is no alternative other than defying the call by the transport minister which he says is impractically impossible. Recalling the idea, one driver Musa Hussein from Singida noted that, the government had once promised to build rest houses along main roads passing along various regions in the country for the sake of helping passengers and drivers who were fond of dodging and hide in bushes for helping themselves. But wonders as to what had caused the project not to start.

Passengers rush to the toilets to attend a call of nature at Singida town when their bus stopped, this follows the government's order that required passengers to attend such calls instead of going to bushesas it was used before, the habit commonly known as 'kuchimba dawa'

However, investigations can establish that, none has yet been constructed despite of the existence of the idea which was planned after having seen the escalating problem was becoming a nuisance causing environmental degradation. Investigation over the matter reveals that, in early 2011, the government had promised that it could build rest houses for upcountry passengers and that a budget for the construction of these houses could have been set aside during the budget for 2011/12 fiscal year, but unfortunately nothing has been done so far. The government through the Ministry of Transport planned the idea of rest houses to be constructed along the main roads countrywide in order to provide lavatory services and other social amenities to cater for the need of passengers traveling along to upcountry regions. The government had seen the move as a permanent solution to a long standing problem which is facing passengers who takes long hours while on their safari, and once in need of going for a call of nature resort to enter in nearby bushes for help, a situation described as “Kuchimba dawa”.  However, the call was made by the then Deputy Minister for Transport Dr. Athuman Mfutakamba when being interviewed in a special report program aired by the Dar es Salaam based Independent Television station (ITV). Dr. Mfutakamba who now has been dropped from the ministerial position in the previous reshuffles made by the President Jakaya Kikwete was required to clarify what steps his ministry takes following a research carried by TV crews through the Dar-Iringa-Mbeya-Tunduma road. Research revealed that passengers on board in a long hour travel receives some difficulties when it comes to the need of helping themselves, and instead resort to go to the bush a situation which has been described to be environmentally unfriendly. Dr. Mfutakamba noted that, his ministry would corporate with the Ministry of Works who undertakes the construction of upcountry roads and deliberate on the possible measures together with setting a special budget a situation which has not been done up to now.