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We can pay our fares, disabled persons tell bus conductors
2006-06-28 09:20:07
By Amri Lugungulo, PST
Sight impaired and other physically handicapped persons in Dar es Salaam have complained against crews and owners of the city commuter buses (daladalas) for refusing them to board the buses after underrating their capability to pay fares while it is not true.
A treasurer with the Tanzania National Institute for the Blind (TNIB), Boniface Kyenze, told PST recently that some daladala crews refuse the handicaps to board the buses on belief they could not afford the fares while in fact they could pay like able-bodied persons though there were a few individual cases who could not pay due to unknown reasons.
He said the handicaps are more generous in paying fares even than the able-bodied persons since the blind, like anybody else have their sources of income.
’’Many times I would hear some passengers in the buses quarreling with crews after failing to pay the required fare. And just see how the able-bodied persons fail to understand why they underrate those who can afford, is it because of the disability or poverty?’’ he asked.
A blind tailor, Abdallah Nyangalilo said though he could afford to pay the fare for himself and his escort, it is always difficult for them to secure transport as the crews at bus stops deny them access to the buses.
In sighting handicaps at a bus stop, conductors would use slang language to direct the driver not to stop and worse enough some of the conductors would dub the handicaps as stones or bags (mawe au viroba in Kiswahili).
In an interview, many handicaps including Anna Issa from Buguruni and Stella from Uhuru-Mchanganyiko in the city say they were always facing the same problem, despite the fact that they were ready to pay the fares.
An official with the Surface and Maritime Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) said the issue would be discussed to find solutions for the benefit of both the bus owners and the handicaps.
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