Dar es Salaam: 20 more arrested in touts cleanup at Ubungo terminal

BY RAYMOND MTANI.

The total number of arrested touts is now 50 following yesterdays swoop that saw 20 more touts sent into custody in the second day of the operation aimed at eliminating the touts from the Ubungo Bus Terminal (UBT).

Speaking on behalf of the Tanzania Bus Owners Association (Taboa) secretary general Rajab Kasim revealed that apart from yesterday’s arrested 20, for the lack of required identification cards, 15 agents were also arrested but were later released.

On Monday, Taboa, UBT and security officers decided to include in the terminal’s ‘clean up’ efforts, all unidentified agents, after which resolution all agents were informed of the decision. “After the meeting, we agreed that as of Tuesday, all agents without IDs will not be spared during the crackdown,” Kasim asserted.

The stakeholders meeting on Monday also directed bus owners to post fare charts in their buses to save passengers from extra and illegal charges.

Meanwhile, some agents complained that the operation is interfering with their daily work activities. “They want only six workers for each bus company…,” Stanly Mukeshi, an agent at UBT said “…that number is too low, what about us? Where will we be employed,” he lamented.

Dar es Salaam City Council (DCC), Taboa and UBT have long been attempting to remove the touts from the terminal over allegations swindling, theft, robbery and general lack of order at the UBT.

All touts who are arrested under this operation were taken to the city council court.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN: http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=55035