Use our pull-down menus to find more stories
  


OR subscribers use AllAfrica's premium search engine


Click here to read or make comments on this topic »

Cameroon: 'Toll Gates' With a Difference


Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
 

Email This Page

Print This Page

Comment on this article

Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)

COLUMN
17 March 2008
Posted to the web 17 March 2008

Tche Irene Morikang

Have you ever cared to find out why all drivers of heavy-duty vehicles transporting goods on our highways are given "road allowances"? Well, it is not only to handle the unforeseen, such as repairing a flat tyre or accidents.

It is also to pay their way through the toll gates. And toll gates, indeed, there are. Besides the authorised toll gates, there are several places on our roads where drivers are obliged to deep their hands into their pockets. Who cares if all your documents are right!

The characteristics of these unofficial "toll gates", managed by men and women with red and black berets, are virtually the same through out the country. They will hardly go for personal cars as they target vehicles carrying goods. At times the rates are known; although they are subject to negotiation. And what more, no receipts are issued for the money received.

The irony is that consumers are those who eventually pay for these tips handed to the men in uniform on our highways as traders take this into consideration when fixing their prices. If you were present at the recent negotiations between the Minister of Trade and wholesalers, you'll certainly bail me out. Making sure that these unlawful "toll gates" cease to exist might just be another way to down the prices of some goods in our markets.



AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

 
Share this on:
Facebook
Digg
Del.icio.us
StumbleUpon
Muti


Copyright © 2008 Cameroon Tribune. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed

Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe

Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement.

HOME
allAfrica.com


Relevant Links




Several Killed in Fuel Tanker Explosion
President Halts Arrest of Former Governor Over Power Probe
Mbeki Forges New Ties with Europe
Zuma Assures Poor White Afrikaners
Watchdog Acts on Vodacom 'Lies'





Today's Most Active Stories