The Zimbabwe Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has suspended with immediate effect, the operating licences for Rimbi Tours and Zebra Kiss bus companies involved in a fatal crash caused by reckless driving by both drivers on Tuesday afternoon.
A video of the two buses racing down the Harare – Nyamapanda highway and ending up in the fatal crash was widely shared on social media.
A Rimbi Tours crew member was killed in the accident and several other people were injured.
The suspension means all buses operated by these two companies will be grounded until the conditions set by the minister are met.
In a statement, Transport Minister, Felix Mhona warned Transport Operators, Associations, motorists and members of the public that the Ministry will take stern measures provided by our laws against those who wantonly and blatantly violate road traffic rules and regulations.
“Informed by the foregoing violations and verified videographic circumstances, the Commissioner of Road Transport, after informing the two operators of his intention, and after the operators were given a reasonable opportunity to make representations on the matter in terms of Section 17 (2) of the Road Motor Transportation Act [Chapter 13:15], invoked provisions of Section 17 (1) (b) (i) of the same Act and suspended the licences of Rimbi Travel and Tours and Tashllyt Investments Trading as Zebra Kiss from operating all its omnibuses in all the routes as authorised by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development,” read part of his statement.
“This suspension is with immediate effect pending corrective measures by the two operators to ensure that they are in a position to resume operations without breach of the terms and conditions under which their licenses are issued.
“Section 17 (1) (b) (i) of the Road Motor Transportation Act empowers the Commissioner of Road Transport to suspend the operator’s license where it appears that there is disregard of the terms and conditions of the licenses. I have directed that this provision be implemented dutifully, consistently and religiously going forward, with the view to weed out all errant operators from our roads.”
On social media, many people agree and support the minister’s stance and have called for a heavy hand in dealing with unscrupulous bus operators and reckless drivers to ensure there won’t be a repeat of the horrific events on Tuesday afternoon.
