UP-Country motor cyclists have described the recent government’s directives which
requires them to have a permit while entering in the Dar es Salaam city centre
as an embarrassing move saying that, the process of getting such permits for
them is very cumbersome and time taken. In view of this, some motor cyclists
have raised a grave concern of what is currently happening to them claiming
that as they are not aware of such directives, finds themselves being fined by
traffic police unknowingly
for
allegedly entering the city center without having legal permits. The
measure by the government was taken following the increased wave of criminal
incidents involving motor bikes popularly known as ‘Bodabodas’ and Bajaj (a
tricycle) in other acts of robberies of banks and shops in the city. In
addition to that, it was also alleged that some criminals use them to grab
wallets, mobile phones, watches and other valuables and swiftly move off
unnoticed.
Speaking in an exclusive
interview in the city, some motor riders
have expressed their disappointment and claimed that they do not have enough
time to acquire such documents which takes long processes to get them. Samson
Musa a motor cycle mechanic from Singida town said that, he became furious after
having been fined with Sh. 30,000/- two weeks ago, this was after he had
entered the city centre unknowingly while riding his motor bike. Narrating the
incident he said that, it has also taken him long time to apply for the permit
from the Dar es Salaam City Council (DCC) as no one knows him there, leave
alone bureaucracy he has been facing for the registration process in order to
get a permit. Abdalah Salim who drove all the way from Tanga region got
himself in the hands of traffic police officers unknowingly while riding his
motor bike along Samora Avenue at the city centre a week ago, and had no option
to contradict with the law enforcers except to pay the fine. Speaking over the
matter, he said that although the government had a good idea but time for
advocating the issue to the general public especially motorbike riders from
up-country regions seems to be shorter.
He
is of the view that, the authorities could pass the information countrywide to
regional and district levels for awareness to alert motorbike drivers to avoid
such inconveniences in due time. Salim further added that, Bajaj and motorbikes
are the quickest means of transport so banning them is like punishing people to
suffer with traffic jam.
Muhidini
Selemani a resident of Vingunguti commented that he is glad to hear that
bodaboda and Bajaj are out of the city because they cause havoc due to their
increased registration. “The bodaboda drivers are always riding at a very high
speed and worse enough they do not observe and respect the rules and regulation
governing all road users,” he said.
However, efforts by this paper to get the
DCC’s Public Relations Officer Gaston Makwembe for clarification over the
permits proved futile. However, his close aid in the office Beata Singano, said
that, upcountry motor riders have to get their permits as usual in accordance
to the legal procedures outlined by city bylaws. However, she noted that, every
applicant for the permit has to pick a form no matter from where he comes from
and fill it then accompany with the relevant documents required such as driver’s
licenses and a letter of a local government leader or a village leader for
proof. However, she declined the saying that such city bylaws restrict Bodaboda
drivers traveling to upcountry regions from Dar es Salaam city. “The DCC bylaws
are for Dar es Salaam alone” she said. However, she noted that, the DCC in
collaboration with the traffic police has intensified security at the city
centre looking for motor riders who do not have legal permits as directed by
the government and apprehend them. Dar es Salaam Police Special Zone
Commissioner Police Suleiman Kova was recently quoted as saying that, most of
the Bajaj and bodaboda drivers are doing their jobs without adhering to the
rules governing roads for the safety of the road users. He some of them do not
even possess the driving licenses and use these motorcycles in stealing
people’s properties particularly women on the streets, he said. “This operation
will be progressive until when the government will be satisfied beyond doubt
that these drivers have come into line in considering the safety of all road
users and respecting the rules and conditions governing roads,” he concluded. Statistics
from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) shows that, there was a total of
10,036 registered bodabodas in the country, as of May 2013.
In Dar es
Salaam alone, there were at least 4,432 of them. Despite being a solution to
traffic congestion, bodabodas have some challenges. Safety and security are not
guaranteed. Statistics obtained from annual traffic report of 2014, indicate
that, at least 8,241 road accidents occurred in 2013 involved bodabodas, and of
those, 6,831 caused 1,058 deaths and injured 6,578 other people. At least 870
bodaboda riders died in 2013. Bodaboda accidents contributed to 18.5 percent of
the total number of motor accidents in the year. The Director of Taxpayers
Services and Education, Richard Kayombo, was recently quoted by the media as
saying that,
the new exercise is among
TRA’s spirited attempts to set up proper systems for the management of
motorcycles and their number plates by differentiating them from those of motor
vehicles. He cited the example of Kenya which had introduced a similar system
and noted that, the strategy also aims to curb motorcycle-related crimes in the
country. Kayombo appealed to owners of motor cycles to voluntarily register
them with new numbers which start with MC 101 AAA. Motorcycles used for
business will have white number plates while those for general use will have
yellow number plates.
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