By Friday Simbaya, Iringa
Tanzania’s Traffic Police commander Fortunatus Musilimu in collaboration with Iringa Regional Traffic Officer (RTO), Yusuf Kamotta, has made a sudden inspection on some passenger buses, trucks and other vehicles in order to investigate drivers' licenses and to see whether they observe road traffic safety rules.
The Commander was in Iringa Region on the ongoing inspection of passenger buses along with other vehicles night and day in the operation dubbed as “catching up drivers and put them in custody.
Recently, the Tanzania traffic Police launched a "Nyakua Nyakua" operation which would involve arresting drivers, putting them in custody before being sentenced to court.
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| The bus conductor of Rungwe Express from Kyela in Mbeya region when she was interviewed by the Tanzania’s Traffic Police commander SACP Fortunatus Musilimu (C) in collaboration with Iringa Regional Traffic Officer (RTO), Yusuf Kamotta (R) during his 'Nyakua nyakua' operation at the Igumbilo Checkpoint in Iringa yesterday. (Photo by Friday Simbaya) |
He pointed out that one driver has already apprehended one driver of New Force Bus in Iringa and put in custody for allegedly over speeding.
In the operation, the traffic police will not fine drivers who will be convicted of wrongdoing, but will have to fish them up and put them in custody and then bring them to court the next day.
The Tanzania’s Traffic Police commander, SACP Fortunatus Musilimu, told Guardian yesterday at Igumbiro Police Checkpoint in Iringa that the operation is being done by eliminating the boundaries of the region where the traffic police will now be involved in catching lawless drivers.
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Tanzania’s Traffic Police commander Fortunatus Musilimu inspecting one of the truck drivers Paul Chawuya (54), a resident in Ndola, Zambia, during his 'Nyakua nyakua' operation at the Igumbilo Checkpoint in Iringa yesterday. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)
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SACP Musilimu said that from now on, drivers who do not follow the road safety rules will be caught up as a targeted puppet so as to control the accidents in the country.
While in Iringa, he ordered his traffic police officers to arrest and put them in custody and then to court all the drivers who would be able to go against the road traffic rules and regulations.
"My call for drivers and other motorists is not to ignore the statement, but take it seriously to ensure traffic safety rules are being followed to avoid accidents, many of which are caused by the negligence of drivers," he emphasized.
He also asked all drivers to go for refresher courses before a five-month period given all the drivers by the authority but failure to do so will see their licenses revoked.
However, commander SACP Musilumu has asked the traffic police officers not sit back in their shelters (booths) waiting bus conductors to take schedules (bus timetables) to them but go in to check all the documents inside the bus while the passengers see it.
He noted that booths were meant for resting during the sunshine and rainy season adding that after having a sitting with the TABOA bus owners and explaining that the traffic police officers were delaying when the conductors take the documents to the booths but instead entered into the buses and inspect all documents before the passengers.
At the same point, the commander said that in order to alleviate the complaints of delaying bus to reach their destinations, they would set up few special checkpoints for buses and other vehicles to reduce the number of traffic inspections.
He added that by doing so it would increase the effectiveness of the inspection work as well as to make drivers cooperate with the time scheduled to arrive in different areas and get safely.
On the other hand, Iringa Regional Traffic Officer (RTO) Yusuf Kamotta said there was challenge of accidents, so he urged the people to take part in the road safety to reduce the accident.
RTO Kamotta stressed that participatory road safety involves reporting before the accident occurred, and that is the only way to reduce the risk of accidents, adding that ‘Tanzania without accident is possible.’
However, Tanzania’s Traffic Police commander Fortunatus Musilimu in collaboration with Iringa Regional Traffic Officer (RTO), Yusuf Kamotta, thanked the people and drivers for providing co-operation on road traffic officers.
They said that the operation was also meant to check for driving licenses, road worth vehicles and check for speed limit devices installed on the buses whether they were tempered with including general vehicle inspections.
Speaking to The Guardian, Musilimu said traffic police officers in the country have been directed to pay focus on offences as stipulated in the law because their main duty was to ensure that traffic regulations were adhered to so that accidents that cause loss of lives, injuries and damage to property can be prevented.
The traffic police say road accidents in the country declined by 43.9 per cent from January to November 2017, compared to the same period in 2016.
The traffic police have also put in place three strategies to curb road accidents including installing cameras, motorcycle and private car special operations and the drive safely on weekend approach.
“These strategies will help minimize road accidents. We decided to come up with new strategies for various reasons,” the traffic police boss told The Guardian.
He said cameras would be installed on roads starting with the road from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya, monitoring speed and identifying sources of accidents if there was any.
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