By Benjamin Ajuong Machiek Malek
A bus was moving along the rough road from Hai Referendum to Gudele.
Because the road was so bad, the bus shook hard, and two passengers were pushed against each other. One of them accidentally kissed the other because of the strong shaking, and that led to a big fight. This fight made me ask myself many questions.
Why are the roads in our city still so poor? Everywhere, people are building strong concrete houses. Big towers are going up. Expensive cars like the V8 are being bought every day. But the roads, which we all use, are still in very bad condition. These are roads that schoolchildren, market women, and workers use daily. They are full of potholes, dust, and water during the rainy season. Yet nothing is done to fix them.
In addition, our public transport system is in a terrible state. Most of the buses are old and broken. Many have no good chairs. Some seats are missing cushions, and the bus covers that should protect passengers from the sun or rain are gone. The buses are dirty, smelly, and noisy. Some make loud sounds because they are too old or not properly maintained. Others shake so much that you feel like you are riding on a horse, not a bus. If you sit in one of them, you will understand the pain of public transport users in this country.
The drivers of these buses also show no respect. Some drive with too much speed, not thinking about the lives of the passengers. Others play loud music and talk carelessly. The conductors shout at people, insult them, and even mistreat those who are only missing one pound on their fare. They treat passengers as if they are not human beings, as if they are not citizens of the same country. This is not right.
Yes, times are hard. Life is not easy. Nevertheless, we must still treat each other with respect, kindness, and mercy. A little understanding can go a long way. The government needs to step in. The Ministry of Trade and Transportation must wake up. They are not doing their work well if buses are moving like this and roads are left to destroy lives and property.
The government must fix the roads. Not just in rich areas or near government buildings, but in all areas where ordinary people live and move. They must repair or replace the public buses. They must create rules to control how drivers and conductors treat passengers. They must bring in transport inspectors who will check the condition of public buses and ensure drivers follow safety rules.
What I saw was sad and shameful. A small problem caused by a bad road led to a fight that could have become worse. This shows us how poor transport affects our daily lives. If we want peace, safety, and progress, we must first fix the things we all use, like roads and buses.
It is time for change. It is time for the government to care. We, the people, deserve better roads. We deserve better transport. We deserve to be treated with dignity.