Bus operators tighten crew education
BUS operators are working out how to upgrade crew training after a Rimbi Tours bus rammed into a tipper killing a passenger and leaving seven others seriously injured while trying to overtake a Zebra Kiss bus, with the two buses apparently racing.
The Government moved swiftly and with immediate effect, suspended both operators’ licences, and that has led to soul searching within the industry to find ways of making sure all drivers obey the road regulations and drive safely.
The accident happened on Tuesday at around 4 pm in Mutoko district 160km from Harare along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway.
Yesterday, bus operators under the Zimbabwe Passenger Transporters Organisation (ZPTO) convened a meeting on how best they could invest in educating their crews to be punctual and exercise extreme caution when driving.
ZPTO chairman Dr Sam Nanhanga said the meeting was aimed at mapping a way forward on how best they can ensure the safety of passengers on the road after the accident in Mutoko.
“As an organisation, we thought we need to talk to our operators. That sort of behaviour among our drivers needed to stop if we want to preserve the lives of the people, and as responsible operators, we are reminding each other that let it be a last of its kind to have that unforeseen incident,” he said.
“We have recommended that we should religiously follow our timetables, that all operators who are coming on board should consult and find out first on the number of buses plying their intended routes and the timetable so as to avoid chasing one another, competing for customers.”
Dr Nanhanga said the mishaps were creating a lot of touting where people were losing their properties when boarding buses.
The association was encouraging one another to follow the road rules of this country.
“At the end of the day we want to avoid accidents and preserve lives,” Dr Nanhanga said
Meanwhile, suspended bus operators, Rimbi Tours and Zebra Kiss have taken heed of the suspension and have parked their buses at their depots. The managing director of Zebra Kiss Mr Tangisai Mapuranga said they have since complied with the Government’s directive.
“According to the conclusion which was made by the minister to suspend Zebra Kiss from operating, we have complied. All our buses are parked, but this has a very big impact on the company.
“The first thing is that we have got employees and we have sent most of them home. They have got families who were depending on them ,but now since the buses are parked ,they do not have anything to do and it is going to affect their families. This is my only business and since I have parked these buses there is no revenue coming in.”
Mr Decent Rimbi, thedirector of Rimbi Tours, echoed the same sentiments and said they have recalled all their buses and they were parked at the depot in compliance with the minister’s directive.
“We are pleading with the Government to be lenient with us.
“We have more than 120 employees and we are forced to send them home because we are not generating any income, but our worry is how are they going to fend for their families.
“We will be taking all our drivers through a refresher course where they will redo their defensive driving so that they exercise extreme caution on the road and follow road regulations,” he said.