Gassed In Tanzania

(Published in the Guardian May 2006)

The diesel fumes spewed out by traffic on our roads will be the death of me. Not from the eye irritation, lung and throat congestion or cancer that they are known to cause, but because every time I get stuck behind a vehicle discharging these noxious gasses from its exhaust I will do anything to get passed it. Blind corner or not, I risk all to overtake and breath fresh air.

I have no idea if there is any legislation to penalize vehicles that smoke excessively in Tanzania, but there is in the entire first world for a reason. If such legislation exists in Tanzania it is not being enforced. Our Government is not known for ignoring an opportunity to increase its revenue, but in this case it is missing a golden opportunity.

Perhaps enforcing vehicle emissions limitations could be said to harm the transport industry, however stopping and fining or impounding vehicles that are violating emissions regulations would surely be none discriminatory, and affect everybody equally. Precious fossil fuels would be saved. Dark smoke poring from trucks and busses exhausts is a recognized sign of an inefficient engine not burning all of the diesel being injected into its cylinders. If blue smoke is seen billowing out from an exhaust it indicates that the engine is burning engine oil, even stronger evidence of a tired and expensive engine to run.

Fixing these problems is possible, and requiring them to be fixed would make all of those mechanics and spare part salesmen very happy, again good for the economy.

It is the duty of a government to ensure that its citizens are not harmed by the excesses of this industrial age. Business will not self regulate its environmental abuse with its profit margin as the bottom line. The purpose of democratic Government is to keep the naturally greedy private and business sector in line, preventing abuses of our environment.

On the internet I found exhaust emissions testing equipment starting at around five million Tanzanian schillings. I believe he police, trained to use this equipment, could very quickly recuperate that expense if three such roadside mobile units were set up in Tanzania.

Just think of the good that they could do to save all of our lungs, preventing respiratory problems us and our children, rich or poor.

By Amani A. Chungaji