The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
3 May 2011
The May Day strike staged in Dar es Salaam by upcountry bus drivers and conductors to protest poor work conditions and employment terms should serve as a reminder that the country’s transport sector is in a serious need for radical changes.
The drivers claim that they have to contend with shoddy contracts that leave them at the mercy of employers who can sack them at will.The drivers and conductors are subjected to working long hours that entail manning a bus for days on end, including time some have to spent in faraway countries. During such assignments, they go without sleep since they have to work round the clock without co-drivers.
As a result of this and other challenges, drivers have increasingly become a dissatisfied and stressed lot. That easily explains their erratic behaviour on the road, the consequence of which has been a rise in the number of road accidents.
It would, therefore, be a mistake for authorities to treat their demands casually. Their contribution to the economy is immense and besides, they are also entrusted with safety of people, which, we all must acknowledge, is a delicate task.
It is our belief that the authorities concerned will take up the matter of bus crew concerns more seriously, if we are to avoid a repeat of this year’s May Day.
AllAfrica – All the Time