RTSA shuts 7 Lusaka driving schools

SEVEN driving schools in Lusaka have been closed by the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) for operating illegally and outside the provision of the Road Traffic Act No.11 of 2002.

In a statement released to the Daily Nation yesterday, RTSA head of public relations Fredrick Mubanga said the Driving Schools have been ordered to immediately close and stop offering driving lessons.

The affected Driving Schools are Galaxy Driving School, Puma Driving School, Vwanganji Driving School, Matcus Driving School, Peniel Driving School Presmac Driving School and Risemark Driving School.

“This came to light when the RTSA conducted a driving School inspection and enforcement exercise recently, where it was discovered that the closed Schools lacked proper documentation and some appeared under different names,” Mr Mubanga said.

In some instances, he said, some driving schools were found to be receiving payments from driving lessons using two different receipt books under different names such that if one School is threatened with closure, the other School would get the payments on its behalf. Mr Mubanga said nine motor vehicles were impounded during the exercise from the named driving Schools for not having Certificate of fitness, not paying for Road Tax, failure to insure the vehicles and lack of qualified instructors.

He said the vehicles were parked at the RTSA Dedan Kimathi station and would only be released when they compliy with the law.