Clandestine Road Transport: Gov’t Presents Strategies To Curb Phenomenon

“Distinguished Journalists, Ladies and Gentlemen;

I wish you a warm welcome to this meeting during which we shall be discussing on Government’s strategy against clandestine road transport in our country and I would like to thank you for responding so massively and quickly to my invitation. As you have noticed, I have the honour to welcome on this occasion, two of my eminent colleagues of the Government: The Minister of Territorial Administration, His Excellency Paul ATANGA NJI and the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest MASSENA NGALLE BIBEHE. Your Excellencies, Dear Colleagues, welcome to the Ministry of Communication. Let me welcome Mrs KOA Evelyne, Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat of the National Committee for the Fight Against Clandestine Road Transport. Allow me, on behalf of the Government, to also welcome all State Experts, from the Technical Secretariat of the National Committee for the Fight Against Clandestine Road Transport, the Ministry of Territorial Administration, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Secretariat of State for Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie and the General Delegation for National Security. I’m equally happy to acknowledge the presence of Trade Union officials who are incidentally statutory members of the National Committee for the Fight Against Clandestine Road Transport, be it transport by buses, taxis, taxi bikes, or heavy load carriers.

Distinguished Journalists, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Known as "Clandos", "Opeps", "Make-Mazou" or "Kosovo", these vehicles, whose activity is clandestine road transport, are often in poor condition. In any case, they operate in violation of the regulations in force and operate in localities with difficult, low or, in some cases, no access by regular carriers. This mode of transport, which in many respects presents serious risks to the lives, health and safety of users, appeared during the economic crisis of the 1990s. Unfortunately, it has now become very alarming. As a matter of fact, not only because of the demographic boom, but also due to some deteriorated roads, transport companies’ fleet have decreased substantially, the reby reducing the movement capabilities of people in towns as well as in the countryside, on board decent and appropriate vehicles. As a matter of fact, the growing gap between the supply and demand in means of transport has unfortunately fuelled the development of this mode of transport known as "clandestine transport!" The public authorities, based on official reports from the various investigations carried out in the field, have drawn up an alarming overview evidencing that road transport has become a kind of transport hydra, which does not comply with legal standards at all. Moreover, the actors of clandestine road transport develop their activities completely on the fringes of social and tax legislation, thus imposing an unfair competition on regular professionals of the road transport sector. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, has instructed the National Committee for the Fight against Cladestine Road Transport, placed under the active chairmanship of the Secretary General of the Prime Minister's Office, to take all appropriate measures to register this activity. The Head of Government has thus prescribed the involvement of the Ministry of Communication and all the administrations dealing with road transport issues, particularly, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Territorial Administration, to conduct a wide official campaign to inform, educate, communicate and raise awareness of the public and societal dangers of the various aspects of illegal road transport. Reliable statistics indicate that 40 to 60% of the vehicles on our roads are involved in illegal transport activities. Let me recall here some elements related to the consequences of this situation with regard to road safety. First, in terms of statistics, it has been established that over the past eight years, 22,314 material and physical accidents have occurred on our roads, for a total of 8,669 deaths, many of which are victims of the "Clandos" or "Opeps". There is no doubt that the characteristics of these clandestine vehicles are to be blamed for this high proportion of accidents and deaths due to the increase in the number of such vehicles on our roads. Generally, these are vehicles wi thout license plates, for the most part. Their drivers often work without a driver's licence or other transport documents, without a transport licence or prior authorisation, etc. They use vehicles or motorcycles for personal use. They transport goods, and/or people, between cities without the required consignment note or waybill. In addition, these vehicles carry out their public transport activities outside the authorised area or route. This situation of permanent illegality is no longer acceptable. This is why the Prime Minister, Head of Government, has prescribed that the legal and regulatory provisions provided for in this area may be used to ensure sound and detailed regulation of road transport in relation to this scourge of illegality. With regard to the legal framework, let me remind that the road transport sub-sector in Cameroon is governed by Law No.2001/015 of 23 July 2001 and Decree No.2004/0607/PM of 17 March 2004 to lay down the conditions for the practise of the professions of road transporter and road transport auxiliary. This legal framework specifies, in particular, the conditions of access to the profession of motor carrier, as well as the offenses and penalties to which offenders are exposed. In addition, we should mention Order No. 120/CAB/PM of 13 November 2015, amended and supplemented by Order No. 049/CAB / PM of 09 May 2016 on the establishment, organization and functioning of the National Committee for the Fight Against Clandestine Road Transport in Cameroon, set up by the Prime Minister, Head of Government. The ge...