Online Reporter
Mukudzei Chingwere–Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s education authorities have moved to tighten oversight of transporters ferrying learners, following a spate of fatal accidents that have reignited public debate about roadworthiness, overloading and the safety of children.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said it is mulling a policy which will see it regulate transporters.
Spokesperson, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said the education ministry will work in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to develop and implement the regulatory framework.
“The Ministry is concerned by the continued loss of life of learners on school transport routes and we believe this is worsened by the condition of vehicles plying these routes or negligent driving,” said Mr Ndoro.
“The urgency of the matter has been underlined by the Gweru disaster, where the President declared the incident a national disaster,” said Mr Ndoro.
“So, this is not yet policy, but what we are saying is that learners should be ferried by vehicles suitable to carry learners and the drivers should be licenced to drive learners, not a haphazard scenario.”
The concern is not isolated to Gweru. In Chiredzi, residents and authorities were also forced to confront the dangers facing travellers, after an accident claimed the lives of children who were on their way to school early this week.
