The array of cars in the arrival lounge of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salam, the capital city of Tanzania, was dominated by Toyota cars and mini buses. A first time visitor may think that it is the official passenger transporter at the airport or owned by a company with a leasing agreement with the Japanese auto-maker.
But while on about an hour’s drive to the city centre during the rush hour, any car enthusiast would notice that about 70 percent of the cars on the road, both private and commercial, were Toyota brands, most of them white.
However, most of the commercial vehicles have a fanciful line drawn in the middle while those operating at the airport are plain white, with some having pink line across the mid-section. As if in rhythm, the drivers spotted white shirts with identical cars and plate numbers for easy identification. Tanzania still operates a right-hand drive system.
On the popularity of Toyota in the country, a taxi driver said the reason may not be unconnected with the zeal of the government, which guides its people on how to get the best value for their money, adding that when they discovered that Toyota is a reliable brand with a variety of cars and trucks, they advised the people to go for it.
He said the government has allowed car dealers to buy fairly used vehicles from Japan for re-sale to end-users in the country. That was why the brand was almost everywhere in Tanzania. He said those who can afford a new Toyota, do so and also other low-budget or luxury cars.
The cab driver said spare parts of other brands are more expensive compared to those of Toyota, which are readily available from all dealers, including Nigerians of Igbo extraction, in Dar es Salaam.
Similarly, most of the drivers said Toyota is the most reliable car as there are many mechanic workshops specialised in total overhauling of the car coupled with its electrical and panel work.
However, there are showrooms for other cars, mostly Chinese-made. Different brands of luxury cars could also be found in an area called Oysterbay and a commercial district known as Posta.
Interestingly, drivers in Tanzania exhibit a healthy degree of patience behind the wheels. They don’t honk their horns indiscriminately as is the case in Nigeria. Also, their traffic police – dressed in white uniforms – are virtually at every road junction in the city and in the country side with their walkie-talkies, aside other road marshals ready to apprehend drivers who violate traffic rules such as beating traffic lights which results to a huge fine.
Meanwhile, another Tanzanian, who declined to give his name, said cars were not parked at police stations because all vehicles involved in accidents are written off by the insurance companies or the offenders and sold to spare parts dealers. While on a tour of the areas where car dealers abound, this reporter saw parts being removed wrecked and sold to buyers.
Government officials, diplomats and tour operators are not left behind in the patronage of Toyota cars. Government officials and diplomats spot black colours, while Land-Cruisers used by tour operators are painted brown.
On the island of Zanzibar, taxis display a notice on the front doors indicating they are licensed to carry five passengers for saloon cars and seven for minibuses.
Intriguingly, on both the mainland and island, more than 70 percent of the cars from small private Starlets to medium sized Carina saloon cars, four-wheel drive Land-Cruisers, police patrol trucks; Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and even official convoy of the president are Land Cruisers. Basically, Tanzania is a land of Toyota.
