We’re making losses on checkpoints- motorists
Drivers operating along the Juba-Mundri Highway have raised concerns about how they were forced to pay unlawful taxes on illegal roadblocks.
The motorists said almost half of the money passengers or owners of goods paid in transport were paid at those checkpoints.
Matayos Kenneth, a driver who ferries passengers along the Juba-Mundri road, revealed that there are more than eight checkpoints along the highway and drivers are forced to pay at least at each checkpoint.
“It is the reason why we are not reducing transport fares. You cannot pass any of these checkpoints without paying cash to them. Of course, the money we are charging the customers is too much, we understand, but we cannot also manage to operate on nothing. If so, then most of us are not going to operate,” Kenneth complained.
“A passenger used to be charged at SSP 5,000 only to Mundri town some three months back, but currently it has gone to SSP 10,000 per passenger, and out of that SSP 10,000, if you reach safely; maybe one gets less than SSP 4,000 per passenger.”
He mentioned some checkpoints, which he said vehicles could not pass through without paying money.
“We have more than eight checkpoints just between Juba and Mundri alone, starting from Luri Bridge, where there are over five offices and one pays in every office.”
Other checkpoints he mentioned were Nyamin, Ko’da, Rukon, Tabari Bridge, Jambu, Lanyi, Lui, and Eyi Bridge in Mundri West County.
According to Mr Kenneth, one cannot cross those mentioned checkpoints without paying not less than SSP 1,500 to SSP 2000 each.
Makaku Idisa echoed his sentiments that they were forced to hike fare because of this.
” We are doing it (increasing fare) because we are being pressed from the other side, so in order to cool the pain, you move yourself to a place where you can drink water, “he stated.
Idisa called on the government to either reduce the number of checkpoints on highways or direct the officers at those checkpoints to vacate.
For her part, Cicia Agnes, a businesswoman in Mundri East County reducing checkpoints on the highways would improve business, hence prices of commodities will drop drastically.
“If some checkpoints are reduced along the highways, drivers will also understand the condition of the passengers and charge a reasonable transport fee, even if the prices of goods on the market are reduced,” Agnes added.
Futuyo’s plea
Last week, during the 100-year cemetery celebration of Lui Diocese in Mundri East County, WES Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba, lamented that it has become difficult for the state government to control and remove unnecessary checkpoints along the roads since the country’s forces are suffering in different ways.
“As a result, when they are hungry, you will hear that some people have been robbed, either in their homes or on the roads,” Governor Futuyo said last week addressing pilgrims in Lui Diocese.
He attributed numerous checkpoints to lack of prompt payment for the security officers.
“They do not have food, proper medicine, uniforms and other basic needs, including mere transportation, to some incidents happening along the roads.”
