Malawi govt U-turn on move to adjust road traffic penalties, fines: Minister calls for ‘more consultations’
Malawi government has succumbed to pressure from motorist and other road users not to affect its newly adjusted fees and fines for road traffic services and offenses.
The Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) recently adjusted by over 200 % t fees and fines for road traffic services and offenses in an attempt to reduce increasing cases of road accidents largely blamed on reckless driving.
Adjusted fees were expected to be with effect from November 13.
However, Malawian reacted angrily to the new arrangement many of them said it was a ply of the ruling DPP government of raising campaign money for the 2019 elections.
Others said the adjusted fines would promote corruption among traffic police officers as many motorists would rather opt to bribe the traffic officer to proceed with journey other than pay huge amount of money to government which in turn will also be corruptly used.
Transport Minister Juppe Mhango confirmed to Nyasa Times on Thursday morning that the government has decided to suspend the adjusted fines “to pave way for more consultations and discussions.”
This comes few days after parliamentary said the adjusted fines were invalid as The Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services did not consult it.
Parliament said DRTSS has “overstepped its mandate” by rushing to announce the new fees and penalties without the approval of the National Assembly.
Road traffic authorities said in earlier a statement that the adjustments were necessitated by an increase in cost of service and materials that the Directorate uses in order to serve the general public efficiently.
“On the other hand, the continued increase in violations of road traffic laws has shown that the current fines and penalties are not deterrent enough hence the increase,” reads a statement.
Malawi has recently seen an increase in road accidents in which many people have died and several others seriously injured. Many them are blamed on reckless driving.
Acting Director for DRTSS, Fergus Gondwe told journalists on Wednesday that most accidents are caused by over speeding, drink and driving, reckless driving, careless overtaking, ignoring traffic signs, fatigue and overloading.
He said last year, 1,112 people were killed from 962 fatal accidents while from January to September 2017, and 1791 people have been killed in 694 fatal accidents.
Gondwe said road accidents costs the country an estimated 1 percent to 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
“This is between $47.1 million and $193.5 million annually”.
He added that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs vetted the changes.
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The Muthalikas have proven to be dangerous people.Very cruel or callous. Bingu made us suffer with fuel shortages. Peter is making us suffer through fines, power outages, etc. This country is in the hands of wizards.
This is not a question of reckless driving but affordability to pay the fines. While some of us are able to pay the fines think about the many poor drivers whose salaries are below K40,000. At the same time,think about those who are above the law like ministers and the president himself. Do they pay these fines? No. The judges.Do they apy fines? No. The policemen who own vehicles. Do they pay fines no? It is the common man that suffers. In Malawi there is selective application of the law. It is very stupid to connect everything to MCP. Can being ruled toa ruled traffic police officer attract such a fine? Why should Malawians live in fear? We used to fear the youth league and then the YDs and now DPP. For how long shall we be oppressed?
It is not the increased fees and penalties that will prevent or indeed reduce accidents on the roads of Malawi, it is the provision of corrupt free traffic police on the roads of Malawi, full stop.
Whilst I side with the opposition MCP on most social ills currently buffeting nyasaland, I differ with them on this one. This is distasteful opportunism on their part. There is too much reckless driving on Malawi roads these days. Each and every day, you always see outrageous conduct on our roads. It’s sad that as a nation, we seem to have embraced disregard of laws/regulations on many development frontiers. For instance in this case, we seem to be accepting “it’s okay to down a bottle of Jameson and cruise home”. Behind this warped thinking underlies a mentality that leads us to pay bribes at RTD, that lead us ‘glorify’ gangster accountants who steal money from the civil service (“ooh, he is doing extremely fine. He has just built another elegant house in new shire “), that’s why we have been voting into government known thieves post 1994. We need a moral revolution to save this country. To Honorable Thyolera and friends, here is my simple message : These people who are needlessly dying in the unabating road carnage are not garbage. They are breadwinners for their families, they are dear sons and daughters to parents, lovely brothers and sisters to others, promising individuals who would have contributed to the development of this nation. These families go through unimaginable heartache for their losses.
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The irony in this case is that RTD itself has greatly contributed to this mess (if not being the main culprit). Too much corruption at this institution has resulted in unfit persons getting PSV driving licenses, the elite “purchasing” licenses and COFs, a lot of drivers currently on the road never passed exams, etc. Mr Thyolera, if you want to tackle these issues, next Monday you should find out more on the anti – corruption measures being touted by Mr Gondwe: How many RTD officers have been caught and prosecuted so far – we know they take bribes on a daily basis. Whether ICT auditors come and audit the current system, how accountable will the funds collected be (our traffic police officers have always known to be corrupt) , etc. For me this is a failed institution. If I were it’s CEO, I would fire everybody and recruit afresh
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As a starting point, these fines are justified. They are evidence based. Mr Thyolera, you should take time and visit ward 3A at Kamuzu Central Hospital. Patients, mostly road traffic accidents – at any point in time, in excess of 140, crumpled in a ward meant for 40. Yes they lie on the floor, they sleep on the verandah with weights attached to their limbs. I salute the nurses in this ward. And the TWO orthopedic surgeons available at this facility. Each year their case load is at least a dozen thousand. May God bless you. You are noble warriors. Shame to our politicians. Shame to corrupt RTD officers and traffic cops.
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Furthermore, this is subsidiary legislation. Changes require the minister responsible to bring any amendments to parliament before they take effect
I don’t know what your are writing, its difficult to comprehend you long writing.
To control frequent occurrence of accidents on the road is to confiscate driving licences of the culprits as the Traffic police in the UK do, not charging motorists exorhbitantly. Once you confisticate a licence you can allow the offender may have to wait for a period of at least two years before they can be back on the steering wheel again. Wayne Rooney is serving this kind of punishment. You will see people will be more careful on the road osati zokuba ndalamazo iyayi kenako zikalowe m’matumba mwa anthu a DPP ndiye chani.
How about improving the conditions of the roads before blaming the accidents fully on motorists? Roads are full of potholes and are narrow. These thieves (government and road traffic officials) travel to countries with good road infrastructure and I wonder why they never want Malawi to be like that? Raising penalty fees only won’t stop accidents, it’s a combination of factors. Come and blame it on road users once you’ve fixed the roads!!
DPP led government no vision at all
Mwina ngozi za pa mseu zimenezi zikuchitika chifukwa cha kuzimazima kwa magetsi. Passenger ndiye victim wamkulu pomwe ma minibus akulowetsa ndalamazo m’matumba mwawo. Akapha munthu pangozi iye angolipira chindapusa pomwe ena aluza munthu wawo. Ndiye mbuzi zina nkumati akufuna ndalama za campaign. Malawians when will you stop dying silently. Minibus owners are business people. They don’t care about your lives. Yet you are blindly backing them.
This is simple propaganda. The political plan was to use road traffic and then gvt should come with a reversed decision so that people should think that the government is now listerning.SHAMEFUL
ma fines anali too heavy awachotseretu mumangopanga zinthu panokha chifukwa chani zimenezo timati dictatorship
Sounds good now. However, the increases should be abandoned and not suspended. They are unwarranted.
What on earth are you thinking? One step forward two steps back…, with this kind of dance you can’t win the 2019 competition!
Mumafuna kuesa zida eti!!
We are tired of these adjustments. Where is the cashgate moneys to cater for the this? Dont you feel bad seeing all these malawians especially in villages how they are suffering? The cashgaters are quiet in town. God will answer.
This is what we were expecting as Govt is trying to clear itself…..anthu ndiokwiya ndi issue ya magetsi ndie mukuoonjezeleso mkwiyo winaaaaaaaa…dont you know you that 2019 is fast approaching!
Please think systematically before you implement any policy. Did you really think about how that decision would propel corruption? How do you expect Police Officers who recieve less than 200,000 to handle a million from offenders? Boma penapaketu mmmm. Kumauzana abale
So this Government just decided to charge Malawians without consulting other people who are also standing for Malawians? koma abale, mwangokhuta kwanu uko basi muli tiwayamwe a Malawi, a Malawi akaupezela kuti mtendere ngati muuwakhazika akopolo mDziko lawo lomwe? Abale, ine ndimava chisoni kwambiri ndi Dziko lathu mwanva nthuni?
I like the discussion of kuti D.P.P ifuna ipange ndalama za campaign, zikuoneka ngati zongocheza koma mmmmmmm the way how this Government runs its affairs, you cant trust them, oh shame!!
This is a very good idea but.Our police traffic officers are corrupt.I was driving from Mzuzu to Blantyre via lakeshore, you can’t believe in Salima @ Kamuzu road I found 4 passengers in front of a salon car,when I asked one of the caller boys “Kodi mpaka folofolo kutsogolo? He said “imeneyo ikupita pa Ngodzi, amalipiliratu kwa a traffic K2000,00 mmamawa ulionse Kenako kumangodutsa.Akaimitsa mmamawa driver amathamanga kukapeleka ndalamayo ndiye kuti wagula njira tsiku lonse.Samaona COF,license,matayala ndi misonkho bola opanga matolayo wapereka K2000,00 kwa apolisiwo,So these adjustments will mean traffic police pocketing more.Very bad.
These are thieves, stealers, gangsters etc. They have been caught big time ambushing Malawians.
2019 will judge.
We expected this and thank you for listening.
Iiiiiiiii Zamanyazi ku Road traffic……..NB. Umphawi ndiwatonse tisapwetekane tokhatokha a Malawi. Kuba mpakana uwonetsa fupa?
Tembenu and Banda zamanyazitu izi!! Kudzimva sugar kwambiri kapena!! Nanga tiziti kukula mtima kumeneku nd chani amangwetu, maudindo a lero mawa palibewa? Eeeeeeeeshiiiiiiiii
Anthu amenewa ndi ma kape chifukwa there are so many variables to accidents including bad roads