Drivers call off strike

Commuter bus drivers have called off their nationwide strike and resumed operations  on condition that the government responds to their demands in writing by this morning.

 

The resolution was reached thanks to liaison efforts of Kinondoni District Commissioner Paul Makonda and the Association of Bus and Lorry Drivers leaders.

 

After hours of discussions, DC Makonda managed to convince the drivers to sign a preliminary resolution document and return to work.

 

Terms of the document hold that, the government is to commit in writing to work on the drivers’ demands by 10am this morning. The document was subsequently sent to Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda   for official response.

 

Makonda pledged to ensure that the drivers will be provided with the official commitment from the government as agreed and should the government fail to provide the written commitment, DC Makonda promised to join the drivers’ strike.

 

Convinced with the DC, the drivers resumed work at around 1pm with upcountry buses departing the Ubungo Bus Terminal and the commuter vans resume their usual routes.

 

Briefing his fellow association members after the reconciliation, the secretary of the association of bus drivers and Lorries, Rashid Salehe said they called off the strike believing that the government will uphold its end of the agreement.

 

According to Salehe, the issues agreed between Makonda acting on behalf of the Prime Minister and the drivers cover among other things employment contracts, monthly salaries and medical insurance.

 

Others are proper channeling of salary payments which the drivers want paid through banks and not on mobile transaction. The drivers also want daily road inspections by traffic officers on commuter buses to cut down to only one day per week.

 

The drivers also demand a reduction of what they described as ‘unnecessary fines’ by traffic officers particularly in the case of in-city commuter vehicles.

 

Truck drivers demanded Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to improve efficiency at cross border points citing heavy duty trucks heading to neighbouring countries are forced to park for up to twenty days at the border points takes up to twenty days stranded at the border points.

 

“The government is to be blamed for the mess that was caused by the strike,” Salehe said.

 

“It is because they ignored our demands…the reconciliation reached between the association and Makonda will certainly open the public’s eyes that we drivers had good intentions and our demands are genuine,” he stressed.

 

Chairman of the association, Clement Masanja called on drivers countrywide to resume work while waiting for the government’s response.

 

“Let us resume work, our fellow citizens have suffered a lot due to the government’s refusal to work on our demands,” he said.

 

DC Makonda said the drivers’ demands are right and should be listened to. He went on to fault composition of the permanent committee on road transport formed by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda over the weekend saying it did not include the association members who are the key players in the sector.

 

He also cited the committee’s lack of terms of reference and lack of a specified operation time frame.

 

 “I want you to form a team that will be ready to go with me to the Premier’s office and get a signed letter of agreement to handle your demands,” he urged the drivers.

 

 “You have the right to resume your strike if the government fails to deliver a commitment document addressing your grievances,” he told them.

 

The DC also order for the immediate release of all drivers arrested in connection with the strike.

 

Similar reports have been received from Arusha where several commuter bus operators resumed operations together with their colleagues in Dar es Salaam and elsewhere in the country.

 

Arusha Regional Traffic Officer (RTO), Marison Mwakyoma confirmed that the public service vehicles have resumed operations in the region.

 

The nation was on Monday brought to a near standstill after commuter bus drivers went on strike across the country.

In the course of the day, passengers were forced to seek alternative means of transport including bicycles and pick-up trucks but many were forced to walk in the rain. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN