Public warned against private vehicles

MEMBERS of the public have been warned against boarding overloaded open trucks as that put their lives at risk considering that roads are bad and slippery especially during the rainy season.

This comes amid an increased number of people who use open trucks as a means of transport in Bulawayo, saying their fares were cheaper compared to commuter omnibuses. Open trucks are charging $2 while kombis are going for $5.

In an interview, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Mr Tatenda Chinoda, said people should board public passenger vehicles instead of resorting to private cars.

He said there were a lot of risks in boarding private vehicles as they usually do not adhere to the minimum number of passengers trucks should carry.

“Light motor trucks are only allowed to carry eight passengers, seated inside the truck, not standing or seated on the board. The law also allows more passengers if it’s an organised company or family movement provided it is safe to do so. Anything else is unsafe.

“Lack of commuting fares appears to be forcing commuters onto cheaper open trucks. This is not only unsafe but also illegal therefore speed management must be key for overloaded vehicles otherwise tyre bursts and loss of control of vehicles becomes common,” said Mr Chinoda.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said trucks were meant for carrying goods from one place to the other, not overloading passengers.

“Drivers carrying passengers in open trucks will be liable to arrest. Therefore, members of the public should take note of this and police officers should impound such vehicles and ensure that they are taken to the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) both in terms of the Road Traffic Act and the Motor Transportation Act.

“Action should be taken because those vehicles are not insured to carry passengers and when an accident occurs passengers risk not being compensated,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

A passenger, Ms Nomagugu Ndlovu said open trucks were affordable and reliable therefore, they were an alternative to kombis and Zupco buses that one would be forced to wait for hours before they come.

“We have no alternative. Things are bad economically and we will not stop boarding open trucks because if one is to wait for Zupco the queues are long and we have young children at home, we will get home very late and tired. Kombis are very expensive and beyond our reach considering the current economic situation, a majority cannot fork out $10 per day,” said Ms Ndlovu.