Second hand tyre dealers sue TBS

DAILY NEWS Reporter

ASSOCIATION of Second Hand Tyre Sellers has filed a suit against Tanzania Bureau of Standard (TBS), opposing the alleged attempt to close their business illegally.

The case number 75 of 2016 opened at Kisutu Resident Magistrates Court in Dar es Salaam is scheduled for hearing next Monday, May 9. The association demands 10m/- as damage costs.

The association says it reached the decision to seek court intervention after verbal demands failed to bear any fruit. “...The defendant (TBS) has not indicated any intention of making any settlement amicably with plaintiff’s (the association) members,” the plaint reads.

According to the plaint, the association, among other issues, wants the court to clarify a TBS notice that banned importers and sellers of tyres issued January as was not specific on the nature of used tyre and the scope of notice.

The association, with about 1,000 members, was registered under law of the land in 1998 with mandate of recognising and defending its members. “...The plaintiff’s members have suffered for not opening their shops, over fears that the defendant may close them, thus causing psychological torture and inconveniences...” the plaint claims.

The association members have some 500 shops in Dar es Salaam and are claiming to resale tyres which were previous approved by TBS. The association wants the court to interpret TBS’ January notice and declare its legality.

The association also wants TBS to pay the general damage from the act and the cost of the suit. In January this year, TBS issued the notice to all importers and sellers of used tyres, informing them that importation and sale of used tyres was prohibited.

The Association General Secretary Henry Titila said second hand tyre dealers are not importing their tyres rather buying from the local sources.

“Motorists changes their tyres for a number of reasons and upon inspecting them we resale the same to the market,” Mr Titila told Daily News.

A motorist can sell his/ her tyre due to car accident, vehicle to be out of order, changing rim size or during rain seasons and fit new tyres to avoid slipping. Apart from that not all tyres removed from vehicle are resalable to motorists as some are for push carts or tractor trailers that operates in farms or making tyre sandals— Maasai ones.