BODA BODA JOB ISN’T A CRIME, THEY MUST NOT BE SYSTEMATICALLY LOOTED AND MISTREATED.

By Ustaz Mogga Emmanuel

Open Letter to

Hon Emmanuel Adil Anthony, Governor Central Equatoria State, Juba

Other Relevant Stakeholders

Dear all,

I write this letter today as a first call in this New Year in the spirit of peace and development, in the spirit of working to empower the common person and rebuild South Sudan.

 I write it as an urgent call to address the challenges affecting the youths of this country and in this regard the Boda Boda riders, the young men and women who offer themselves to contribute to nation-building through offering transport to the citizens.

There is something wrong: The Boda Boda riders are being robbed, day and night they are being asked to pay money for purposes nobody knows. When you move around the city you will see with your own eyes men in uniform stopping these boys/girls, City council and unpopular Boda Boda Association chasing them here and there to levy heavy fines, charges or confiscate the bikes, etc for unjustified reasons. All these unending demands are attached to huge financial “ask.”

The move seems as coordinated by some businessmen and high ranking government who use men in uniform and the Juba city council plus administrations of Payams of Juba County that are in the neighborhood of the city to boom their business, accumulate wealth and perhaps frustrate these hard-working youths.

Over the years the number of commercial motorbike riders has increased in Juba and all over parts of South Sudan, this can be attributed to the fact that it provides a source of livelihood to the majority of youths who may not have access to white-collar jobs.

There are no clear statistics from any institution on the number of Boda Boda riders either within Juba as a City or South Sudan as a whole. However, according to the Sudd Institute, there were 5,000 licensed motorcycles in Juba as of September 2013. In this regard, it is possible that by now January 2021 it is the number may have quadrupled if not more.

Despite the risk associated with the business such as accidents and robberies etc the operators in the Boda Boda industry are being faced with other challenges that are rather institutionalized and yet it’s such institutions that should have worked to support them.

Key among some of these challenges that require urgent attention among others include.

1. Unnecessary arrest of Boda Boda riders to have helmet and a reflector, this is manned by mostly police and men in military uniform, It may not be bad to require riders to put on helmets but several questions remain unanswered..

What’s surprising is that they need you to have these items from a specific supplier branded with logo and some writing of that company,

“YICDA for trade and investment”. If one has a helmet and a reflector different from that they either arrest you or fine you some money and let you go. If it’s about safety why should it be specific from a particular company, why can not a normal standard helmet and reflector be considered.

Why must it be that particular one branded with a company name and marketing content?

Why should it not be traffic police doing the operations, how does not putting on a helmet or reflector become a military issue to involve the military men? Something is wrong

2. Compulsory payment of monthly fees to a self-proclaimed Boda Boda Association moving  from stage to stage to collect these fees and failure to pay they confiscate the bikes  making the owners either to pay heavy charges or end up  losing their bikes.

My concern is that membership to these Association is made compulsory including paying the monthly fees yet it does nothing to support the livelihood activities of the Boda Boda riders in any way, they act rude, beat up these boys and take away their bikes. Why is this association being allowed to do such acts impunity?

This money collection is being enforced by men in uniform and the receipt bears a logo of Juba City council.

Where does this money go? Who are these thieves/looters why are they getting such a backing to deprive people

Governor I hope you know and understand that the Boda Boda riders are hardworking people hustling to make ends meet, others are students looking for school fees etc. It is not correct in any way to subject them to such nor even to treat them with scorn.

Boda Boda is one of the largest industries that has kept the youths busy; it offers employment more than any other entity or institution in South Sudan.

I am not saying such Business shouldn’t be taxed or regulated but if it must be so then it has to be in accordance to the law, why are they being mishandled and being looked at as means of acquiring survival money by some of the institutions and private businesses or individuals.

Why is the government allowing some individuals and companies to manipulate systems in the pretext of safety assurance just to rob the little income of these boys?

I think we can still do better, the Boda Boda since independent of this country has been subjected to many uncoordinated regulations most of which seem irrelevant and inconsistent but are just meant to extort money. No one ever came out to stand with them, they have been battling it on their own and end up nursing their frustrations, letting it not continue as so something has to be done.

If there is any need to organize and regulate the said industry let there be a well-coordinated and a human rights based approach that is favorable to both parties.

We may ignore them but they hold a bigger stake in the affairs of this City and the country at large.

Let’s offer them a chance and a better working environment. Doing Boda Boda is not a crime, it is a noble job.

Much as criminals also hide in it such as the famous “Toronto Boys” it doesn’t mean all of the riders should be crucified for sins/crimes of a few. The law must work to single out those gang groups and treat them to the law other than generalizing all and subjecting them to the same treatment.

Those riding should be given peace of mind, to ride in peace and reach safe,

#BodaWorkMatters. #BodaBodaLivesMatter

Ustaz Mogga Emmanuel.

A Concerned South Sudanese Youth.