adminAshley Mujoma
THE Zimbabwe Passengers’ Association (ZPA) has condemned the speeding Rimbi bus driver involved in the Mutoko Road accident which claimed the life of his conductor and left seven passengers injured.
ZPA secretary general, Paul Makiwa, said:
“We are deeply disturbed by the Mutoko Road accident involving a Rimbi bus and a Tipper because the driver was competing for passengers with a Zebra Kiss bus.”
Makiwa wished a speedy recovery to passengers injured and passed their condolences to the family of the bus conductor killed in the crash.
“We take this moment to remind road users, especially bus crews who are responsible for thousands of passengers every day, that negligence could result in tragedy,” he said.
He called on authorities to put measures in place to protect passengers of public transport.
“Firstly, we recommend that buses serving the same route should have different timetables and these timetables should be advertised.
“We call upon Government to make it a prerequisite that bus operators belong to self-regulating associations with the power to discipline, penalise or deregister offending operators.
“Such associations should work with and be controlled by Government regulatory authorities and road permits should be issued after recommendations by the association,” said Makiwa.
He said, once the monitoring and controlling of buses is enhanced, errant bus operators, and bus crews can be quickly brought to book.
“Passengers associations should also be involved in monitoring and giving feedback used in the implementation of corrective action.”
Online Reporter