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Mwanza City commuter bus `chairman` arrested
2007-09-25 09:41:50
By George Ramadhan, PST, Mwanza
The police in Mwanza Region have arrested the Chairman of the unregistered Transport Stakeholders Association in the region, Julius Malesi, for allegedly inciting a strike of commuter buses in the city, which took place on Friday.
As Malesi was being held for questioning last Saturday, the strike had been called off and services resumed.
When contacted by PST over the phone, Malesi said he had been arrested for the offence he did not know.
At the same time, the regional authorities in Mwanza Region called on commuter bus operators to continue rendering services to the public as per the agreement struck between the parties involved in transportation in the city and the region in general.
A statement issued by the Regional Administrative Secretary, Alhaj Yahaya Mbilla, said owners of commuter buses who would defy the directive had to surrender their licences to the transport regulatory authorities (SUMATRA) with immediate effect.
He also said the authorities would guarantee the safety of drivers and conductors of commuter buses who would continue serving the public.
During the strike, some of the buses which had continued to offer services were stoned by touts, who were allegedly supporting the strike.
To quell down the strike, the authorities have urged the public to report to the police all people who are determined to sabotage the government’s directive on the issue.
The strikers were against the authorities` recent decision to introduce long routes for the buses, which had placed commuters destined for longer travels within the city at a disadvantage of paying fares twice or thrice for the same journey.
Fare rates authorised by SUMATRA for short-distance commuter buses in the city is 250/- while it is 300/- for distances ranging from 11 to 15kms and 350/- for journey ranging from 16 to 20kms.
It is 400/- for a distance ranging between 21 to 25kms and 500/- is for commuters travelling for distances covering 26 to 30kms.
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