Why only buses with number plates D and E are allowed into new Mwenge terminal

“The law gives us the mandate to regulate transportation, including designating certain vehicle types for specific zones based on environmental factors. We know that many owners would prefer access to the new bus stand, but our decision considers various aspects, including the terminal’s infrastructure, the comfort and convenience of commuters and other factors,” he said.

His explanation follows a recent revelation that the Sh12 billion facility, which has a capacity to accommodate 300 commuter buses, commonly known as daladalas, started operating in January, but only 40 buses have so far been registered to use the terminal.

The Kinondoni Municipal Council on Sunday urged bus owners to seize the opportunity and operate between terminal and elsewhere in the city.

Daladala Drivers and Conductors Association chairman Juma Ombega was last week quoted saying that they initially hoped to enter start using the facility upon its completion.

However, they now face various hurdles, including the one that only allows buses with registration starting with D or E to access the terminal.

Dar es Salaam Commuter Bus Owners Association (Darcoboa) secretary Shifwaya Lema said the registration limit made it difficult for the terminal to realise its full potential.

But in response to the concerns, Mr Suluo said in exercising its regulatory mandate, Latra could look beyond registration numbers and also focus on drivers and conductors operating on the route.

“They must adhere to wearing black trousers and navy blue short-sleeve shirts to uphold uniformity and professionalism,” he said.

According to Latra, allowing all registered vehicles would lead to a transport deficit in other areas, prompting an influx of operators to the Mwenge stand.

“The selective approach aims to accommodate newcomers without disrupting existing services,” he said.

Mr Suluo further mentioned that currently, the licensed daladalas would be permitted to drop passengers at the Mwenge bus stand and continue with their journey. However, future routes may be introduced at the stand based on demand.

Recently, Latra invited transport operators to apply for licenses for new Daladala routes in Dar es Salaam.

These routes aim to enhance accessibility for citizens, with the criteria specifying that vehicles serving the Mwenge stand must adhere to certain standards.

For a new vehicle that has never been registered in the Railway and Road Information Management System (RRIMS) licensing system, the driver of the vehicle must be Latra certified.

On March 12, the Kinondoni Municipality Council urged bus owners to seize the opportunity and operate their daladala trips from the terminal which is located adjacent to the newly built Mwenge commercial centre.

Speaking to The Citizen on Sunday, a small-scale trader at Mwenge, Ms Karen Mtuya, said Latra’s decision is meant to maintain order at the new terminal and ensure that services are not disrupted elsewhere.

“We urge the government to maintain consistency in its policies, encouraging people to invest and then altering plans before their investments have yielded returns is counterproductive and expediting the commuter bus routes is crucial, as it will drive pedestrians to local shops and stimulate business.”