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THE GOVERNMENT has suspended operating licences of Rimbi Travel and Tours and Zebra Kiss buses with immediate effect.
This follows a fatal accident which killed one person and seriously injured several others after the Rimbi Travel and Tours bus rammed into a stationary tipper truck during what appeared to a race between the two buses.
In a statement yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said in view of the incessant road fatalities being recorded on the country’s roads, he had taken a bold stance to reduce road carnage.
“Pursuant to the fatal accident, which has so far claimed one life and caused serious injuries to many passengers, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and other actors in the ecosystem of road traffic management, including the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) and emergency health services, has established the component of human error, prohibited by Sections 51, 52 and 53 of the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 13:17) as the principal cause of the accident.
“Informed by the foregoing violations and verified video graphic circumstances, the Commissioner of Road Transport, after informing the two operators of his intention, and after the operators were given a reasonable opportunity to make representations on the matter in terms of Section 17 (2) of the Road Motor Transportation Act (Chapter 13:15), invoked provisions of Section 17 (1) (b) (i) of the same Act and suspended the licences of Rimbi Travel and Tours and Tashllyt Investments, trading as Zebra Kiss, from operating all its omnibuses in all the routes as authorised by the Ministry.”
Minister Mhona said they shall build on this momentum of strict enforcement of road motor transportation and safety for the safety and well-being of the people.
“This is in line with targets contained in the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 (2021-2025), which seeks to reduce road accidents and fatalities by a 25 percent margin per annum.
“I wish to remind and warn all transport operators, associations, motorists and members of the public that the Ministry will take stern measures provided by our laws against those who wantonly and blatantly violate road traffic rules and regulations.”
The minister stated that the safety and security of the commuting public cannot be taken for granted.
“We will not hesitate to suspend and cancel licences of operators who violate terms and conditions of such licences, traffic rules and regulations.
“We urge all road traffic law enforcement agencies to be on high alert to enforce the road traffic laws and ensure that operators with suspended and cancelled licences do not ply our roads.”
Online Reporter