By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Government has suspended operating licences for bus companies Rimbi Travel & Tours and Tashllyt Investments (Pvt) Ltd trading as Zebra Kiss.
This follows a fatal road accident that occurred on 17 January 2023 in Mutoko District along Harare-Nyamapanda Highway which claimed one life and serious injury of several passengers.
In a statement Thursday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona announced the suspension with immediate effect.
“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 licences are issued.
“Section 17 (1) (b)(1) for the Road Motor Transportation Act empowers the Commissioner of Road Transport to suspend the operator’s 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, the view to weed out all errant operators from our roads,” Minister Mhona said.
“In view of the incessant road fatalities being recorded on our roads, I have taken a bold stance to reduce road carnage as the Minister responsible for administering laws and regulations on road traffic and safety management.
“This is in line with targets contained in the National Development Strategy (NDS1) (2021-2025) which seeks to reduce road accidents and fatalities by a 25% margin per annum.”
Minister Mhona also warned transport operators, associations, motorists and members of the public that the Ministry would take stern measures provided by the laws against those who wantonly and blatantly violate road traffic rules and regulations.
“The safety and security of all commuting public cannot be taken for granted. We will not hesitate to suspend and cancel licenses of operators who violate terms and conditions of such licenses, traffic rules and regulations,” he said.
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