Dala dala

A dala dala in the city of Dar es Salaam, 2008

Dala dala are minibus share taxis in Tanzania.^[1] Before minibuses became widely used, the typical dala dala was a pick-up truck with benches placed in the truck bed.^[2]

These often-crowded minibuses are usually operated by both a driver and a conductor.^[1] Called a mpigadebe, the name for dala dala conductors literally means "a person who hits a debe" (a 4 gallon tin container used for transporting gasoline or water) in reference to the fact that conductors are often hitting the roof and side of the van to attract customers and notify the driver when to leave the station.^{[citation needed]}

While dala dala may run fixed routes picking up passengers at central locations^[3] , they will also stop anywhere along their route to drop someone off or allow a prospective passenger to board.^[1]

In contrast to most of these minibuses, in Dar es Salaam some dala dala are publicly-operated as of 2008.^{[AICD 1]}

Regulation

These vehicles for hire have their routes allocated by a Tanzania transport regulator, Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA),^{[AICD 2]} but syndicates (informal groups that fix fares, collect dues, and manage stations) also exist and include DARCOBOA.^{[AICD 1]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Thoughts On Dala Dala Buses isteptanzania.wordpress.com, May 29, 2009
2. ^ Travel Guide to Zanzibar zanzibar.org
3. ^ "How many people can you fit into a dala-dala". How many people can you fit into a dala-dala. http://drshem.com/2011/06/10/how-many-people-can-you-fit-into-a-dala-dala/. Retrieved 2011-6-12. 

1. ^ ^{a b} Stuck in Traffic; Urban Transport in Africa (page 9) Ajay Kumar & Fanny Barrett. Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic in cooperation with the World Bank, January 2008. Draft Final Report.
2. ^ Barrentt & Kumar, Page xii

See also

• Matatu
• Tro tro