‘Thugs’ terrorise bus drivers
THUGS masquerading as ‘political cadres’ are causing chaos in markets and bus stations, and we appeal to President Edgar Lungu to intervene in the matter by deploying police officers to help bring sanity in public places, Capital Buses proprietor Ishmael Kankara has said.
And Mr Kankara said the mushrooming of illegal bus stations across Lusaka was not only a road safety risk for users but also borders on criminality as the money collected from drivers was pocked by unscrupulous people who do not even pay tax.
In an exclusive interview, Mr Kankara said there was urgent need to remove suspected cadres in bus stops and stations whom he accused of harassing drivers and passengers.
The Flash bus owner said he was disappointed with the slow pace at which the government was moving in resolving illegal bus stations that were disturbing his business and that of others in the transport sector.
Mr Kankara said he had on several occasions written to the relevant authorities but his complaints had fallen on deaf ears.
He disclosed that in April, this year a meeting with three cabinet Ministers and two permanent secretaries was held over cadresim at bus stops in which it was agreed that the matter was to be sorted out within the shortest time but up to now, nothing has been done as the scourge was spreading like bush fire.
“A meeting to find a lasting solution to the issue of cadrelism in bus stops was convened on April 16, 2019 and it was attended by the then Minister of Transport and Communication Brian Mushimba, Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale and Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo together with two PSs.
“Mr Kampyongo actually chaired the meeting and he assured us that we would be notified of remedial action to be taken to rectify the problem, but up to now nothing has been done and these so called cadres have continued terrorizing drivers, beating them up and loading buses from the streets,” Mr Kankara said.
Mr Kankara who spoke highly of President Lungu appealed to him (Mr Lungu) to intervene by commanding the police to take charge and bring to an end the illegality perpetuated by the suspected cadres like he did when he deployed security personnel at the time cholera broke out.
He said there were professional police officers who could do their job of eliminating criminality in bus stops if there was no political interference.
“President Lungu is very much loved but some people around him are letting him down. These thugs masquerading as party cadres who are terrorizing law abiding citizens and drivers in bus stops, beating them up and loading buses from the streets are de-campaigning him.
“We appeal to him to quickly do something to stop this cancer (cadrelisim in bus stops). He (President Lungu) should immediately intervene by deploying men in uniform (police officers) like he did during the cholera time to bring sanity in the central business district. We have professional police officers who can do the job if there is no political interference,” Mr Kankara said.
Mr Kankara believed emergency measures were needed to contain the illegality before transporters could resort to closing down their business which could lead to loses of jobs.
He said by operating illegally (loading from illegal bus stations) there was undue traffic congestion affecting the smooth flow of business in the CBD.
Efforts to get the Minister of Local Government Charles Banda proved futile at press time.