Road safety SI heads for Parley

THE final set of consultations for the statutory instrument (SI) to improve transport safety profile in Zambia will be taken to Parliament this week,” Minister of Transport and Communication Brian Mushimba has said.

Mr. Mushimba said the ministry was aiming at decongesting the road transport sector by removing 30 percent of trucks off the roads and push movement of bulk goods and heavy cargo to railway usage.

Speaking in Ndola yesterday Mr. Mushimba said once the railways sector was revamped, it was anticipated that about 1,000 jobs will be created.

“We are trying to bring sanity to the transport sector and I can confirm that the last set of consultations have been exhausted and will be taken to Parliament,

“Railway is cheaper than road transportation and business communities which includes the mines in the country will save on costs,” he said.

Mr. Mushimba said he has since inspected the Zambia Railways inter mine system in which the government has invested K50 million.

He also said statistics recorded at the police indicate that road traffic accident had dropped from ten to three deaths per day or the night ban SI. Mr Mushimba said Government was still not satisfied with the record and was working on sensitisation programmes and increasing visibility of law enforcement officers on the roads.

Meanwhile, Mr Mushimba said his ministry was working with Zambia Revenue Authority through the Road Transport and Safety Agency to design incentives to support the acquisition of proper buses for those in the transport sector.

He said this was in line with Government plans to phase out the Toyota Hiace mini buses that have no provision for seat belts.