Police set up roadblocks to solicit bribes

Police roadblocks are ubiquitous on major roads between Tanzanian cities. According to the Centre for Economic Prosperity in Dar es Salaam, bribes paid to police at those roadblocks total between U.S.$767,000 and U.S.$1,020,000 per year (exchange rate of 1,500 Tanzanian shillings per U.S. dollar). But based on data provided by the East African Business Council and the Tanzania Truck Owners Association (TTOA), the bribes total close to U.S.$15,000,000 per year. The executive director of TTOA, Zakariah Hans Poppe, said, "Truck owners now include in drivers' allowances money to bribe traffic police officers."

Source: "Police Sign Pact to Remove Roadblocks," The Citizen, Dar es Salaam, 14 December 2010, http://allafrica.com/stories/201012150144.html