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| National |
| Minibus operators call off strike |
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by
Emmanuel Muwamba, 23 August 2004
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11:47:07
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Minibus Owners Association (MOA) national publicity secretary McGeorge Saimoni said on Sunday the stay away threatened by his association has been called off after negotiations with top police management.
Earlier in the day MOA chairperson Christopher Chisesele threatened that the minibus operators would not ply the roads in Blantyre and Lilongwe until government removes regional traffic officer for the South Jimmy Gama.
The Passenger Welfare Association of Malawi (Pawa) described the stay away as unjustifiable which will punish the innocent.
But Saimoni said the issue had now been resolve.
“We met top police management, including the Deputy Inspector General Mr Hassan Mganga and we have been assured that they will now change their system of doing their checks,” he said.
Chisesele had indicated that he was in Lilongwe meeting Ministry of Home Affairs officials on the same issue.
“Right now I’m in Lilongwe for a meeting with officials from Home Affairs and Internal Security. Our partners from Lilongwe are set to join us. We feel our businesses are being controlled by the police, which is sad. The officers are dictators and their fines are unjustifiable,” alleged Chisesele.
He also alleged that each traffic officer that patrols the roads in Blantyre has been given a target of K40,000 per week which he said forces the officers to impound vehicles with minor problems.
Chisesele also explained that there are no loading or off loading places in town and yet when “we pick passengers they say it is an offence. They should provide us with these places.”
When Gama was contacted on the issue he said he was in a meeting but indicated he could comment later on.
Director of Road Traffic Jomo Mkandawire, while emphasising that the traffic directorate will not compromise on the safety of the people, referred the reporter to the police who he said were in a better position to comment on the minibus owners’ demands.
Pawa secretary general Alfredo Mkandawire in an interview described the stay-away as very unjustifiable to passengers and the owners themselves.
“What they are complaining about is baseless. Police officers on the road are only following the rules. How can they claim that moving on the road with worn out tyres is minor,” questioned Mkandawire.
“Even the fines that are meted on them are written in the book and they know very this well,” he said, adding: “Do they want to work without following rules and regulations on the roads?”
The Pawa secretary general noted that true minibus operators should not take part in the stay-away.
Minibus Owners Association on Saturday went out in residential areas and townships in Blantyre announcing that there will be no minibuses starting from this morning until their demands are met.
Police on Saturday said they will not stop their operations and have warned that drivers should not block the officers on duty.
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