The decision has been reached following the recent wave of road accidents that has claimed hundreds of lives and left many others maimed. According to the SUMATRA Director General, Mr Gilliard Ngewe, the suspended buses will be allowed to resume operation upon submitting a comprehensive report confirming that the vehicles in question meet the required standards.
Two City Boy Company buses on Monday collided head on at Maweni-Kintinku thoroughfare in Manyoni District, Singida Region, killing 30 people in the road horror and dozens others wounded.
The company’s buses, which have been put on hold, operate between Dar es Salaam and Kahama, Dar es Salaam and Karagwe, Dar es Salaam and Handeni, Dar es Salaam and Mwanza and Dar es Salaam and Gonja.
“All these buses (City Boy) would be allowed to proceed with their operations in the named routes once the authority (SUMATRA) receives an assessment report confirming that the buses have attained the required and staffed with qualified and skilled drivers,” he stressed.
Mr Ngewe said Ota and Super Samy Companies would also be released upon completion of the report. “Mohammed Trans Company has been banned from operating for allegedly operating on sub-standard buses,” he noted.
The public transport watchdog boss hinted that all companies whose buses would be involved in unnecessary accidents will be instantly barred from operations. Chief Traffic Police Commander Mohammed Mpinga said preliminary investigations pointed to driver negligence and speeding as the main causes of the accidents.
The Traffic Police boss warned drivers with the habit of greeting each other as they drive to stop it, further directing bus owners to ensure compliance. “We will not hesitate to take legal action against any drivers and companies that will be spotted indulging in reckless driving,” he said, further warning passengers who incense drivers to step on the accelerator,’’ Mr Mpinga cautioned.
He said plans are underway to review the Traffic Act to oversee stricter action against speeding, non-seatbelt use, child restraint belts and helmets among other traffic rules and regulations. Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched for a bus driver who disappeared after the fatal head-on collision.
Singida Regional Police Commander Thobias Sedoyeka told the ‘Daily News’ yesterday that the drivers, Boniface Mwakalukwa, whose fled, and Jeremiah Martine (34), who is in custody, are suspected to have caused the accident, which left 30 people dead and 48 injured.
“The accident was caused by the drivers because of reckless driving. They tried to greet each other while the buses were speeding along the highway.
According to the RPC, passengers and eye witness accounts, the drivers of the two buses lost control while trying to greet each other. Reports suggest that upon meeting on the highways, bus drivers have a tendency of moving from the left side of the road to the right before exchanging greetings when the buses are close to each other.
Meanwhile, police in Ruvuma Region have said the exercise is going on to search bodies of seven people who are feared dead in Ruvuma River after the boat they were traveling in capsized in Ruvuma River on Saturday last week.
The boat rammed into a rock in the river while ferrying 45 people from Mitomoni to Nakawale village. According to the Ruvuma Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Zubeiri Mwombeki, nine out of 45 boat passengers jumped out of the boat after panicking when the boat hit the rock.
“So far, we have retrieved only two bodies of the people. The exercise to search seven bodies is still in progress,” the Ruvuma RPC told the ‘Daily News’ over the phone yesterday.
Culled from Daily News
Hakuna maoni:
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