POOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT
LEADS TO TRANSPORT INACCESSIBILITY
& AFFORDABILITY IN TANZANIA
Oscar Kikoyo,
Executive Secretary
Surface & Marine Transport Consumer
Council of Tanzania
Introduction
 Tanzania became independent in 1961.
 Shortly after independence, she
embarked on Socialist Policies
christened as “African Socialism”
 Under the auspice of Socialism, many
private companies were nationalized.
Introduction
 Dar es Salaam Motor Transport Limited
Company [DMT] was nationalised also.
Transport Management.
 Proceeds of DMT formed a Public
companies “Shirika la Usafiri Dar es
Salaam [UDA]”
 UDA started to operate under the
auspice of the Government – fares had
to get Government approval.
 Fares regulation were politically set,
did not follow any scientific pricing.
Transport Management Cont.
 Fares were set on ad hock bases which were
low to cover actual operating costs.
 The Government did not cover that financial
gap
 Performance slowly started to go down the
line against increasing population.
 Demand did not match the supply.
 In 1980’s UDA’s actual need of buses was
250 buses but had only 65 buses.
Transport Management Cont.
 Transport services deterioration in
1980’s affected vulnerable groups.
 Thousands of people were forced to
walk in excess of 20 kilometers a day to
and from work.
 45% of population in Dar es Salaam
walked due to lack of accessibility to
commuter buses
Transport Management Cont.
 Majority of people whose income was
good opted to private drive – traffic
jams
 Elderly and disabled persons retreated
into their neighborhood for whatever
quality of service they would get there.
 Creation of Social Exclusion
Transport Regulation.
 Establishment of Surface & Marine
Transport Regulatory Authority in 2004,
Act N0.9 of 2001.[SUMATRA]
 Establishment of Surface & Marine
Transport Consumer Consultative
Council in 2004, Act N0.9 of
2001.[SUMATRA CCC]
 Enactment of Persons with Disabilities
Act, Act N0.9 of 2010
The role of SUMATRA
 Social and Economic Regulation in
Transport Sub – Sector
 Promoting competition and economic
efficiency in the sector
 Setting standards of commuters buses
in the country
 Licensing all public transport in the
country.
The role of SUMATRA CCC
 To advise the Government, Ministries
and relevant authorities on matters of
interests to consumers in transport sub
– sector
 To represent the interests of
consumers by making submissions
aiming at influencing policy change.
Persons with Disabilities Act
 Provides for health care, social support,
accessibility, rehabilitation for people with
disabilities in the country.
 Section 50 (b) of the Act creates an offence
for any person to be denied accessibility for
reason of his/her disability.
 The Minister responsible for people with
disabilities to make guidelines on
accessibility by persons with disabilities.
Government Efforts
 Putting in place proper Regulatory
Framework.
 Putting regulations & standards in
place.
 Enactment of Acts providing for
accessibility – Persons with Disabilities
Act.
Government Efforts
 Bus Rapid Transit Project in Dar es
Salaam (DART)
 First Phase of Project 21.5 Km is on
construction stage expected to take off
2014
 Project has taken care of needs of
vulnerable groups
Government Efforts
 Project will use low floor buses.
 Ordinary Railway transport in Dar es
Salaam expected in October 2012
Conclusion
 Transport is a catalyst of economic
development as it cuts across all
sectors of the economy.
 Social inclusion guarantees equal
access to economic opportunities to all
groups of the society.
End
 Thank you