Street vendors, bajaji, bodaboda unite for peace, reject unrest

DAR ES SALAAM: SOME petty traders, bodaboda riders and rickshaw drivers have pledged to uphold peace and actively oppose all forms of violence.

They recognise that demanding rights through unrest only escalates tensions and worsens the situation. Committed to finding peaceful solutions, they vow to contribute to national stability. This resolve comes in response to the chaos witnessed during and after October 29 General Election.

Speaking to the ‘Daily News’, they said a big lesson has been learnt from the incidents that occurred during and after election.

A rickshaw rider who operates between Mbezi Mwisho and Mwenge, Mr Gibson Marachi said that he was unable to work for five days due to the unrest, which severely impacted his livelihood and led to a misunderstanding with the rickshaw owner.

He explained that the inability to operate during this period was a major setback, preventing him from paying the usual daily deposit of 25,000/- to the owner.

‘I couldn’t operate for five days. I had no choice but to park my rickshaw out of fear for my safety. The police were everywhere trying to restore order, and it became difficult to distinguish between innocent citizens and those involved in chaos,’ he said. Mr Marachi called on his fellow youth to reject violence, stressing that it only leads to loss of lives and property.

‘I urge my peers to work hard and always use lawful methods when addressing issues with the authorities. We’ve learned our lesson and I pray such unrest never happens again in our country,’ he added.

Another rickshaw operator, Hussein Kikoti said that business cannot thrive without peace, a reality that became clear to everyone during the recent unrest. He explained that the majority of Tanzanians rely on daily labour-based activities to earn a living, with only a small percentage in formal employment.

Therefore, when curfews and movement restrictions are imposed, it becomes inevitable that families will face hunger.

‘I earn my living by driving this rickshaw to feed my family. When authorities limit movement, I can’t make money. There are no passengers on the road, which means no income and that leaves my family starving,’ he said.

Mr Kikoti strongly explained that Tanzania should never experience violence like that seen on October 29 again, as it brought no positive impact to the nation. He urged political parties, activists and social media influencers to find peaceful alternatives to address the challenges facing the country.

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‘I personally do not support violence. The few days of unrest we endured should be enough of a lesson for every Tanzanian to understand the true value of peace. Let us not go back there,’ he said.

On her part, a fruit vendor at Buguruni Rozana, Ms Audoksia Richard called on Tanzanians to safeguard the peace they have long enjoyed, warning that it is easy to lose but incredibly difficult to regain.

‘I witnessed terrible things on October 29. The peace we had cherished for years was shattered in just a few hours. The billionshilling projects built over many years were destroyed in minutes. I urge Tanzanians not to follow that path again,’ she said.

Ms Richard explained that the unrest had a devastating impact on her business. Her fruits rotted due to the disruption, leaving her in financial trouble as she struggles to repay loans.

‘Right now, I’m supposed to be paying off my loans, but my business has perished. I’m operating at a loss,’ she said.

Moreover, a motorcycle operator, Mr Lusako Mwakabungu said that many of his friends were arrested and injured on suspicion of being involved in the unrest. He recalled receiving a call from his mother in Mbeya, urging him to avoid any involvement in the violence.

‘I received a call shortly after the violence erupted. My mother warned me to stay away from it. At that time, I was carrying a passenger from Kijitonyama to Kimara Baruti, but we couldn’t even make it past Ubungo. We had to turn around, and I parked my bodaboda at a hotel in Sinza,’ he said.

Mr Mwakabungu insisted that youth must take the lead in advocating for peace and rejecting violence.

“As an innocent citizen, I don’t support violence. That day, all ‘bodabodas’ were wrongly blamed for causing chaos. We pray that this never happens again,” he said.

The Pentecostal Assemblies of God Tanzania (PAG) Church Bishop for Bariadi, Simiyu Region, Marco Maduhu said that what happened in the country on October 29, this year should serve as a major lesson to all Tanzanians. “Now everyone has seen when peace disappears, its consequences affect everyone.

This is a powerful lesson that peace is everything and toying with peace is more dangerous than anything else,” he said.

Earlier, the Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba called on Tanzanians to unite and ensure that the violence and unrest experienced during and after the October 29th General Election will “never happen again.” Dr Nchemba also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding Tanzania and its natural resources, warning that the nation must remain alert to groups seeking to destabilise the country.

Dr Mwigulu was speaking in a meeting with media editors on November 25, this year at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam. He condemned the incidents, which led to the loss of lives and destruction of public property, labelling them as ‘economic sabotage.’

The Premier reflected on the tragic events that unfolded during and after the election period, saying it has left deep scars on the nation. He highlighted the significant costs, both human and material that Tanzanians had to bear.

“My plea is for all of us, each with our own conscience, to declare that such an event should never happen again in our land. It is not a blessing; it creates wounds that will not heal and it costs us dearly,” Dr Nchemba said. He pointed out that the damage caused by the unrest had extended beyond just lives lost and infrastructure destroyed.