|
Mererani drivers and commuter bus owners snub education project
2007-11-27 15:09:47
By Charles Ole Ngereza, PST, Arusha
The association of drivers and owners of commuter buses in Mererani township in Manyara Region have snubbed the authorities` call to contribute funds for the construction of new ward secondary schools and classrooms in their respective areas.
This was revealed by the association`s chairman, Ismael Farijala, over the weekend when he said they would no longer contribute to the construction project as they had so far not been informed about funds contributed in the past ten years.
Besides, he said they could not see the rationale for the authorities to only target commuter bus owners while leaving other stakeholders untouched.
He added that the current system under which a vehicle entering and leaving specified points in Manyara, Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions was charged 1,000/- per trip amounted to exploitation and sabotage of their business enterprises.
``It is strange to note that the Simanjiro District Council continues forcing us to subscribe towards the fund while leaving major mining companies dealing in tanzanite untouched,`` he said, adding that in principle they were not opposed to the subscriptions but rather they had the right to know how the funds were used.
Farijala stressed that all contributions had to be acknowledged with official receipts instead of the current system under which funds were collected at special gates without issuance of receipts.
``We suspect the funds are not used for the intended purpose and end up in the pockets of council officials,`` he said.
When contacted for comment on the issue, Simanjiro District Commissioner Khalid Mandia said he was not aware of the complaints.
|
