Transport in Mwanza city was yesterday paralysed when commuter bus operators halted services in protest against dangerous parking at Buzuruga Bus Stand.
The boycott, which began early yesterday, also
affected other businesses and in some areas angry touts stoned some
minibuses that defied the boycott order.
The operators told The Citizen that they were
protesting against the city council move to force their vehicles to park
at the newly constructed bus stand, which they claimed, is too narrow
and dangerously placed.
“The previous bus stand though it created a
traffic jam, but could allow more than ten buses at a parking lot as
opposed to less than five minibuses that can be parked at a new stand,”
said Mr Juma Mohamed, an operator of a commuter bus plying between
Airport and Kishiri.
The protestors, who included drivers, conductors
and touts, were placed at a very bus stop to ensure all commuter buses,
join the boycott.
The chairman of the union of transporters in
Mwanza, Mr Petro Dede, admitted that the union had organised a strike as
a protest against dangerously placed Buzuruga Bus Stand and traffic
police’s menace.
“We had officially written to the Tanroads regional manager about our grievances, but he has not responded,” he said.
Due to the strike, thousands of commuters in most of areas were forced to walked to work .
The union chairman also accused traffic police of
harassing them and arresting them for what he claimed to be “no valid
reason for their arrest.”
Drivers and touts claimed that the officers
impound their vehicles for more than a week when the operators fail to
pay the bribes they demand.
“We shall not go back to work unless police stop
demanding bribes,” said Mr James Magingo, a driver of a commuter bus
plying between Buhongwa and Ilemela suburbs.
Taxi drivers and motorcyclists took advantage of
the situation and increased fares by more than a half of what they
previously charged.
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