Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Reporter
THE Bulawayo United Public Transport Association (BUPTA), the city’s largest commuter omnibus association, has banned passengers from carrying gas cylinders and fuel containers in its vehicles following a fire that destroyed one of its kombis last week.
The directive comes in the wake of an incident involving a BUPTA-affiliated commuter omnibus operating on the city centre-Imbizo route after a passenger’s gas cylinder reportedly ignited, causing a fire that rapidly engulfed the vehicle.
The driver, conductor and passengers managed to escape unhurt before the commuter omnibus was reduced to a shell.
Bulawayo has four major public transport operators — BUPTA, Tshova Mubaiwa, Vuka Uzimele Taxi Association (VUTA) and Bulawayo City Transit — serving routes across the city’s eastern and western suburbs.
With more than 1 500 commuter omnibuses operating under its banner, BUPTA is the largest public transport association in the city.
BUPTA chairman Mr Morgan Msipa said all operators had been instructed to ensure that drivers and conductors refuse entry to passengers carrying gas cylinders or fuel containers.
He warned that crews who fail to enforce the directive would face disciplinary action from the association.
“We had an unfortunate incident where a new Toyota Quantum that had just started operating the Imbizo route caught fire and was burnt to a shell after a gas tank that was under a seat in the middle of the kombi cause the fire. No one was injured.
“We have ordered kombi operators to tell their drivers and conductors that they must not allow any passengers carrying gas tanks and fuel containers into their kombis. Gas and fuel are hazardous and highly inflammable substances that must never be transported in public vehicles. We will deal with kombi crews who defy that order,” said Mr Msipa.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo supported the move, saying flammable substances should only be transported using specially designated vehicles.
“The fire brigade warns the public to desist from transporting gas and fuel using public transport as it puts the lives of other passengers in grave danger,” said Mr Moyo.
The latest safety measure follows another fatal commuter omnibus fire in Gweru last month that claimed the lives of seven schoolchildren in Senga suburb.
The driver, Malcolm Elvis Cook (22), and conductor, Trinity Mudhenge (18), are facing culpable homicide charges following the tragedy.
According to the State, Mudhenge allegedly boarded the commuter omnibus carrying a jerry can containing about nine litres of petrol after the vehicle had picked up pupils from several schools. The container was allegedly placed behind the driver’s seat before the fuel ignited while the vehicle was in motion, causing a fire that spread rapidly through the passenger compartment.
Seven of the 32 children on board died in the inferno.
The State alleges that the two negligently transported and stored petrol in a passenger vehicle, resulting in the deaths of the pupils.
Colletta Dube