The smart head cover; the cost of safety

It is no longer news that the smart head cover strategy is a hygiene measure to protect taxi-moto passengers from contracting skin diseases. The move has been well received and embraced. However, it is also true that it has attracted mixed public reactions especially motorists, regarding the cost. For beginners, the headgear costs Rwf50 and each passenger is meant to use it once. Motorists who spoke to Sunday Times appreciate the move, but have expressed disappointment saying they incur costs which they can not cover. “Rwf 50 is too much to pay for a headgear for each passenger. This simply means that the more passengers one has, the more you spend on smart head covers,” said Haruna Mukunzi, a motorist operating around Kigali Business Centre (KBC). Mukunzi explained that although some passengers consider the cost of the headgears, most of them are too reluctant to pay extra costs for the kit. “This is practical, we inject in cash to buy these things but I am really surprised that Rwanda Utility Regulatory Agency (RURA) said smart head cover cost should not increase the cost of our services,” he said. Last week, RURA held a press conference and warned motorists against charging extra fees or increasing the fare as a result of the headgear`s cost. RURA`s caution came after consultative meetings that also involved heads of motorists’ associations on coming up with lasting solutions. The Director General of RURA, Regis Gatarayiha, noted that although the fabric may be expensive, legal measures should be followed in order to put up a favourable cost. “We have met with other stakeholders, including heads of taxi-moto association and decided that the use of the head gears be maintained as investigations to establish the appropriate cost continue,” Gatarayiha said. However, another motorist, Amos Mutabazi, at Kisementi shopping centre says it’s also confusing how the smart head cover supplier (East African Cleanliness and Health Company) determines its cost without making enough consultations like RURA and other stakeholders are doing. “As stakeholders go on with investigations like they have said, they should not undermine the fact that we are incurring costs,” Mutabazi said. The cost seems not to only affect motorists but even some passengers who even believe its use is necessary. “In a day, I use a moto not less than five times moving from one point to another. But motorists are trying to use the excuse of the headgear to increase the fare,” said Bosco Mugisha, a businessman dealing in car spare parts in Nyabugogo. He explains that to avoid such expenses, he has decided to do away with smart head covers unless fares are kept constant or as usual. However, some passengers have differing views from Mugisha’s saying incurring Rwf50 is better than contracting diseases as a result of using unsafe helmets. “It is unbelievable if a person values Rwf50 more than the much he or she would spend to treat dangerous skin diseases,” says Dorah Mutesi, a student a Kigali Institute Science and Technology (KIST). She adds that before making or coming up with conclusions, its also wise to consider the out come or effects of certain decisions. As Mukunzi, Mutabazi and Mugisha consider the financial effects, Mutesi is more concerned with her health despite the fact that she also minds about expenses in the long run. Ends