Tanzania President Samia Suluhu has proposed harsh terms on the registration of drivers in the country following a Wednesday, December 18, 2024, morning accident which claimed the lives of 15 people.

In a statement on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Suluhu mulled a digital licence where errant drivers would have points deducted from their licences every time they commit a traffic offence or cause accidents.

Suluhu also condoled with the families of the deceased individuals, urging the police to tighten enforcement on the roads and emphasizing the need for drivers to be mindful.

Usiku wa kuamkia leo December 18, 2024, tumepoteza ndugu zetu 15 kwa ajali ya barabarani, iliyohusisha lori la mizigo na gari la abiria aina Coaster katika eneo la Mikese, Barabara Kuu ya Morogoro – Dar es Salaam (A7 Highway),” Suluhu said.

“Ninawapa pole familia, Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Morogoro Mheshimiwa Adam Malima, ndugu, jamaa na marafiki. Ninawaombea kwa Mwenyezi Mungu ndugu zetu hawa wapumzike kwa amani, na majeruhi wote wapone kwa haraka.”

Deduction of points

“Mbali na wito wangu kwa umma na maelekezo niliyolipa Jeshi la Polisi na vyombo vya usalama December 4, 2024, kuhusu kuongeza umakini na usimamizi katika Sheria za Usalama Barabarani, leo nimeliagiza Jeshi la Polisi kuwa na mfumo wa Leseni za Udereva utakaoweza kuwapunguzia alama (points) madereva wanaofanya makosa yenye kuhatarisha usalama na uhai barabarani,” Suluhu added.

“Mfumo huu uweke taarifa (records) kielektroniki za mwenendo wa makosa ya madereva barabarani kitakwimu, na kisha utumike kuamua kama wanastahili kuendelea kuwa na leseni za udereva au la. Hii ni katika kuboresha mfumo wa sasa ambao mara nyingi dereva hulipa faini pekee na kuachwa kuendelea kuwepo barabarani.”

NTSA introduced the same system in Kenya in 2017 but noted that it would be rolled out fully once all the divers obtain digital licences.

Tanzania MPs bus accident

She stressed that life was sacred and that it was important to ensure that only road-worthy vehicles and drivers were allowed on the roads.

The development comes just weeks after a bus carrying members of parliament heading to the just-completed East African Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa was involved in an accident.

16 Members of Parliament from Tanzania were injured in an accident on Friday, December 6, 2024, after one of the buses they were travelling in rammed into a trailer in Dodoma to avoid a head-on collision.

A police officer who spoke at the scene of the accident indicated that 16 MPs were injured and had been rushed to various health facilities in Dodoma including the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital.