Mbeya cyclist’s gruelling fit in quest to make the roads safer

Dar es Salaam. At 8am, he arrived at Ubungo Bus Terminal (UBT) after a risky road journey lasting seven days.

He was ushered in by wild cheers at the entrance to the terminal as he pedalled along on his bicycle with his back draped in the national flag.

Wiseman Luvanda looked surprisingly energetic and fresh even after cycling 833 kilometres from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam.

He was on a mission to raise awareness on road safety,which he said was a burning issue. His aim was to educate Tanzanians on how they can safely use the roads and reduce the number of people killed and maimed every year in avoidable accidents.

Luvanda, 30, was received by jubilant drivers, travellers and others as he made his triumphant entry into UBT following his gruelling journey from Mbeya.

Many were astonished by his courage given that he faced many risks and hardships along the way.

He confirmed that it was not an easy journey, adding that he was not paid and was driven by his burning desire to play a key role in making Tanzanian roads safer.

Luvanda is a member of the Road Safety Ambassadors (RSA), a countrywide network bringing together volunteers and other people interested in road safety matters.

He lives in Mbeya where he runs an NGO known as Appreciate Tanzania, which specialises in environmental issues such as planting trees and collecting garbage as well as making affordable bricks and other building materials. Part of the proceeds go towards buying school uniform and learning materials for underprivileged pupils in Mbeya Region.

Luvanda told this reporter that following an increase in the number of road accidents which cut short the lives of thousands of people annually, he decided to cycle from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya to raise awareness on road safety.

His mission included educating drivers on the need to abide by traffic regulations and passengers to know their rights and responsibilities.

Luvanda began his journey on February 8, and braved all kinds of weather – from biting cold to sizzling heat – as his cycled from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam.

During his 10-day campaign, Mr Luvanda made over 50 stops along the way to speak to travellers, bus drivers and bodaboda riders on their roles while on the road. He arrived in Dar es Salaam on Saturday morning.

He rode between ten to 14 hours a day before setting up a tent for the night.

“I usually resumed my journey at 5am…I sometimes had to temporarily suspend the journey when it became too hot or when it rained heavily.

“When the sun dazzles you or it rains so hard that you can hardly see ahead then it is too dangerous for you to be on the road. Stop by the roadside until conditions improve,” said Mr Luvanda.

He added that attitudes need to change among road users for roads in Tanzania to become safer. Negative attitudes are especially prevalent among bus and lorry drivers.

Luvanda came across several accident scenes during his journey, and reckless driving was almost entirely to blame.

However, many drivers admitted that strict enforcement of road safety regulations by the Police Force in recent years have helped to restore a semblance of sanity on Tanzania’s roads.

“When you violate road safety rules, chances are that you will be caught and penalised even hundreds of kilometres from where you committed the offence. As a result, drivers are now much more careful. I think we are on the right track,” Luvanda said.

He urged the Police Force and other road safety stakeholders to step up efforts to make travellers aware of their rights and responsibilities, including immediately reporting incidents where long-distance buses are driven dangerously.

Police and game rangers escorted Luvanda along the 50-kilometre section of the Iringa-Morogoro highway that passes through Mikumi National Park.

He said one of the biggest road safety problems in Tanzania was the lack of cycling lanes along highways and major roads, making it dangerous to cycle on such roads.

“Cycling on highways amounts to dicing with death...I was hit by a vehicle, but fortunately I was not injured. I also thank traffic police and RSA for ensuring my safety during the journey.”

It was the third time Luvanda had cycled from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam, his previous journeys being in 2014 and 2015. He also previously walked from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam and Mbeya to Mwanza on different missions.

He trekked to Dar es Salaam from Mbeya in 2013 to sensitise the youth on the need to support their national football team in international assignments.

In the same year he walked from Mbeya to Mwanza to campaign for the youth to use opportunities available in their localities to engage in income generating activities and bring about development.

In 2014 he cycled to Dar es Salaam from Mbeya to mobilise eligible youth to register as voters ahead of the 2015 General Election.

In 2015 he cycled from Mbeya to Dar and then to Arusha in support of the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference in Paris.

He said although such missions were risky, they were for a good cause, which gave him courage and satisfaction.

“I’m actually used to such adventure. The important thing here is to get the message across. I’m glad to have played a role in educating my fellow youth who are drivers and other road users on the importance of adhering to road safety rules. This way we can save thousands of lives that are lost on our roads every year.”

Luvanda has written a book tiled Kukiwa na Foleni (when there is a queue) in which he describes various “queues” the youth have to face in their endeavour to seek employment and grapple with other challenges. He has dedicated two pages to road safety.

However, the book is yet to be published for lack of funds.

“The book is currently at the manuscript stage. However, things are looking up. I recently got a benefactor who promised to provide funds needed to print a few hundred copies,” Luvanda said.

Luvanda will travel back to Mbeya by bus after a short stay in Dar es Salaam.