Yesterday I went to get a Tanzanian Driving Licence......
In theory this is a simple procedure since the British driving licence in recognised here in Tanzania. So far I've used my UK licence, but every time I'm stopped at a traffic police check point, questions are raised over why I have not yet transferred over to a Tanzanian licence. Yesterday was the day to get the ball rolling...
Taking our good friend John Simba with me (John works for Bridge2Aid and is an older Tanzanian gentlemen which would be a help in getting respect and getting things done quickly), we headed off early morning to the Tanzanian Revenue Authority (TRA) driving licence department on the second floor of a large office block.
First stop, a paperwork check. Of course there was a queue for this (as in every other situation), which Simba navigated his way around on my behalf. After finding that we needed more copies of some documents, we headed off to get the necessary docs photocopied, and returned to the same paperwork check desk. Success.
Next stop, another desk, another queue where someone else checked the paperwork and gave us an approval number. A little wait here though since the man we needed to see here had gone for morning tea.
Once that was completed, we headed to 'Biometrics' (queue again - Simba is brilliant and politely queue jumping on behalf of the 'doctor who had lots of work to do so couldn't stay in line all day') where they entered our data onto the computer system, took a photo, fingerprints and signed the documents.
Then we were directed to the police station. Upon entering, we by passed the front desk, Simba knowing just where to go, passed the guard room with those who had been locked up overnight staring out at us and headed into what I can only describe as a scrapyard. Whenever anyone had a vehicle that the police decide to impound it is brought here. Sometimes there are lengthy court cases, often those who have had their vehicles impounded just have to pay a fine for their release. But what seems to happen is vehicles are just left there. In amongst the rows of pikipiki's (motorbikes), fallen apart old police cars, and general scrap, sit two offices for driving licences.
We entered the first where I thought I was to 'receive a test on my knowledge of road signs' (after the obligatory queue). There was a big poster on the wall with all the signs for Tanzania. The man behind the desk looked at my paperwork, looked at me, and signed, approving me for class B and D licence (cars and minibuses). Not the most arduous test I've ever had.
Next to the other office at the police station where they gave me an official number for my licence. Apparently at this stage they used to take the applicant out to drive a vehicle for a 5 minute on the road test, which doesn't happen now.
Then back to TRA for them to enter on to the computer system the number given me by the police.
Then back to the police for a final check that everything was in order. At this point we had to wait outside for no apparent reason (since there was actually no queue). Simba and I have some idea why, which I'm certainly not going to post on a blog. I'll leave you to try to work that one out.
Then back to TRA for them to check they were happy and to print off a bank slip for the payment
Then a trip to the bank to pay the necessary amount, where we were given a bank slip to prove to TRA that we had paid
Then return to TRA for final approval.
I'm now waiting for the licence to be printed and it should be available within a few days.
Thanks to Simba, all of the above was completed in a 'record' four hours!! Had I actually waited in the queues I'd have got through about half of this by the end of the day. Simba, you're incredible - thank you for all your help. I literally couldn't have done it without you!!
Next Blog post.....'Siafu'
