adminWHILE we acknowledge that anything can happen on the road, we believe the duty to ensure that children arrive safely in school lies with parents and guardians.
There are many people in towns and cities who are too busy to do school runs and have resorted to hiring kombis and various types of vehicles to transport their children.
The practice is common in towns for various reasons, but it would appear hiring a vehicle to carry children to school has also become common in rural areas.
This happens especially in areas where schools are far away.
We note that there is nothing wrong with parents and guardians trying to ensure that their children get to school by any means necessary so that they can acquire education which will prepare them for the life ahead and also make them useful citizens, but we believe that parents should not just hire any vehicle.
They should look for a kombi if the numbers are high, and in cases where children can fit in a small car, there is nothing wrong with hiring one.
However, we find it unwise for parents to hire vans and other vehicles that are not suitable for large numbers of passengers. Parents must properly choose suitable transportation for their children, so that they can guarantee the safety of their children.
We believe that just like uniforms and books, school transportation is a central concern that parents should bear in mind and they must look at the maximum capacity of the vehicle they hire, and that capacity must be adhered to.
We say this against a background of an accident that took place recently along the Bulawayo-Zvishavane road where six children died after a Granvia vehicle that was taking them to school overturned, leaving scores injured.
It then emerged that the vehicle was carrying more people than it was supposed to carry, as there were 22 children on board. The children were travelling to school from Mberengwa to Zvishavane.
Reports said the accident occurred when the vehicle veered off the road and rolled several times before it landed on its roof.
It also emerged that the vehicle was the “usual” transport for the children. The driver was said to be speeding. We repeat that parents should always screen vehicles that carry their children to school, as well as drivers.
The legislator for Mberengwa North Cde Tafanana Zhou urged motorists to take precaution on the roads and respect people’s lives, adding that the driver was under age.
“The driver was only 20 years old but Government policy on who should drive public transport is very clear — 25 years. Authorities must monitor such movements and bring to book those who are breaching the law.”
Nonetheless, we wish those who were injured in the accident a speedy recovery, and pass our condolences to families and friends who lost their loved ones in the accident, bearing in mind that young lives were lost in such tragic circumstances.
Online Reporter