The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has questioned the wisdom behind newly installed Malawi Information Traffic International System (MaITIS) upgrade at the department of Road Traffic and Safety Service (DRTSS) saying is aimed at financing the MK902 billion fiscal year plan following heavy outcry from the general public over the system’s inefficiency.
The observation comes amid heavy outcry from the general public that the traffic system’s implementation has done rashly as full information was not given to the motorists in its readiness as are only communicated when visiting the regional offices for services.
In a random interviews, The Maravi Post conducted with the general public on Friday at DRTSS central region offices in the capital Lilongwe where the system has been installed, revealed dismay among the motorists over the new system as they lack information prior to the enrollment.
Most motorists who talked to The Maravi Post faulted the system’s failure to serve them better as much time and days are wasted to complete the whole process with a registration fee of MK5,000 describing the system as non-starter
“I came here on Tuesday to renew my driving license but to my surprise I was told that new system was in place which required me to register with the department as a member before any transaction could take place for a fee of MK5,000. This was a shock because I didn’t get any communication regarding to the new system.
“After explanations, the process started but it has taken me almost three days just to have a registration card as member of DRTSS. What if I want to get my license renewed, how much money and days will take to complete the process? This is a non-starter”, quelled Maxwell Ngozo, a Mchinji-based motorist.
Echoing on the same, Mercy Banda another motorist based in Lilongwe working with a foreign institution said the system has caused misery with her bosses based on days she has been excusing herself from work to complete the process of having Certificate of Fitness (Cof).
“I’m at pain with my bosses due to many days off work to complete the process as it required individuals’ physical presence unlike the old system which you could send someone to do for you. Despite that, there isn’t sign post or an officer to give us direction on what to follow and do which just shows that the department isn’t yet ready for the implementation of the system”, complained Banda.
The Maravi Post caught up with Malawi Congress Party (MCP)’s Spokesperson, Dr Jessie Kabwira said the system was put on the right direction but lack of civil education, inefficiency, timing, and hasty implementation were major problems.
“We have received several calls from the general public about the upgrade of the traffic system which has several short falls which has created traffic jam at the regional offices here in the centre. What we observed it that the public were not told thoroughly prior to its implementation.
“The lamping together of all system services which has resulted into inefficient is a worry some matter which we think as a party, implementation of the system was made rashly without looking into pros and cons. Even, the language put on these forms isn’t tally for a common Malawian especially villagers who want their services done.
“It is this reason, we are think that the system was introduced just to finance the national budget in complementing with the already exercise duty introduced on text messaging and internet services on phones. This wont work. This DPP government must look into other modalities of sourcing money to finance the budget rather continuing punishing Malawians with numerous tax measures”, says Dr Kabwira.
Later, in an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post, Chisomo Christine Chibwana DRTSS Public Relations Officers downplayed the claims that the system aimed at collecting taxes to finance the 2015/2016 nation budget rather serving the public on their safety on roads of Malawi.
Chibwana called for calmness and patience from the general public on the system as their officers were getting used to the new program which might take for sometime, saying any new system put in place always give some little hiccups.
“Since March 2015, the department has been issuing press statements, conducting civil education with stakeholders, running radio and TV programs on the same only that motorists haven’t taken this initiative seriously that’s why they keep asking the same thing which was already communicated to them.
“The system aims to regulate and control accidents which has been claiming lives due to reckless driving of incompetency of some individual who get licenses without attending any driving school. The new system requires one to attend the to driving school before given a license such that only those meet our traffic standards are permitted to be on the roads.
“The system isn’t set to collect taxes but rather serving the interest of Malawians only that any new system put in place always has its own shortfalls but later the transaction will go smoothly. Therefore, we are calling the general public to remain calm, patience and they shouldn’t be panic at all over the implementation of the system but catching it slowly”, assured Chibwana.
The Malawi government had set on May 11, 2015 as the official rollout date for the Malawi Information Traffic International System (MaITIS) upgrade aimed at putting all road users, motorists in one system for proper monitoring on roads of Malawi usage to reduce roads accidents which are still high in the SADC region.
