The commuting public seems to be resigned to facing unwarranted verbal and even physical abuse at the hands of minbus taxi drivers and weyal the touts that shout out outes and swear an empty taxi is full and pull you in. It is an all too common occurrence of a sudden skirmish breaking out as an aggrieved passenger finally snaps and has it out with the rude young men. Today’s society discusses the issue in detail Enjoy.

What should be done about mini-bus taxi
abuse?

I suggest that each mini-bus taxi driver and his weyala be given serial numbers on a badge that they must always wear when on the job. This system will make it easier to identify the worst apples and protect many others who do their jobs ‘professionally’ It will also be simple for victimized commuters to lodge complaints to the relevant authorities.
Temesgen, taxi operator
Commuters who use mini-bus taxis are not all saints. In fact, the typical passenger is pre-disposed to having a sudden confrontation with weyalas simply because of the negative public image given to taxi operators.
Samuel, weyala
Actually, Im’ so sick and tried of having my dignity insulted by weyalas and cabbies that I try to avoid using mmi-bus taxis. I take the bus when I can and if not, I give my legs a good workout and also lose some excess weight by getting up earlier and walking to work.
Daniel, writer
I think drivers and weyalas need to attend a special school where they can be given training in human to human interaction, morality honesty and traditional courtesy.
Atanah, homemaker
They are the worst offenders in terms of traffic violations. There is much concern in regard to various indecent behavior toward commuters. I also believe the issue is not limited to wealas but includes the entire society. We have all something to do with creating the mess Tebeje , mechanic

Its up to us!

The service sector is a major component of Ethiopia’s economy especially in urban centers. Among the more important would be public transport providers and most notably, the nearly 17,000 taxis that ply the congested streets of Addis Ababa.
It is quite difficult to find a good word to put in when talking about the notorious taxi drivers and their ill behaved sidekicks the hated ’weyala’. The term “Weyala is a corruption of the old samskrit via Arabic ‘wallah-walla’, denoting a person that touts the goods and cares for the animal as his merchant master travels from town to town selling his wares. Adopted eagerly by Amharic, “Weyala” today refers both to on occupation and also as an insult depending on how one applies it. The whole thing began about 20 years ago with the introduction of the ‘Weyeyet’ shared taxis after a visit by Mengistu Hailemariam to Sudan, where he saw converted pick up trucks used as taxis.
“Weyeyet” is Amaric for “discussion”- a witty term referring to the side- saddle seats which invariably compel passengers to engage in small talk. The introduction of the Weyeyet was a major component of what little private enterprise was allowed at the time. Little did we know then that the Weyeyet would become a permanent feature of Addis Ababa and all the regional capitals.
Today, the city has grown exponentially the, population has at least donbled since 1991 and precious few of the genuine side saddle Weyeyet remain, replaced by sleeker and more powerful micro-buses (called minibus in Ethiopia). Driving a mini-bus taxi and touting fares is still ‘arif’ business today and thrives despite the atrocious conduct of especially the Weyala rascals.
Passengers are verbally abused, shoved, pulled, tugged, bossed around and otherwise harrased in countless ways. The commuter is in a fact afraid of these part time thieves, nearly all of whom seem to have escaped from a wildlife refuge.
What can be done to stop this unwarranted abuse that commuters actually pay for? ‘Nothing’, an old-timer said ‘Nothing at all’. It’s just one of those many things that we as citizens are forced to endure at the hands of irresponsible officials at the relevant authority. Just bear it is what I say.”
But can we just clasp our hands and keep taking the daily affronts? I don’t think so. In the absence of a regulatory body, I say the traveling public must take the matter into their own hands.