By Chengeto Chidi
Government has with immediate effect suspended licences for Rimbi and Zebra Kiss bus operators following a fatal accident that occurred recently.
In a statement released by Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix T Mhona, the two operators will no longer be operating as their licences have been suspended
“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 reasons 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 Zebra Kiss from operating all omnibuses in all the routes as authorised by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development,” it read.
This comes after a video went viral on social media of buses from Rimbi Tours and Zebra Kiss were racing against each other which resulted in a fatal accident that claimed one life and injured seven.
The accident happened at the 160 km peg along Harare-Nyamapanda Road on Tuesday 17 January 2023 around 1620 hours.
The Commissioner of Road Transport was informed by the foregoing and verified videographic circumstances and after informing the two bus operators, they were given the reasonable opportunity to make representations on the matter and therefore suspended their licences.
Minister Mhona shared that they will not stop enforcing these laws in order to guard the safety of the citizens
“I wish to remind and warn 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,
“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 licences, traffic rules and regulations,” he said.
All road traffic law enforcement agencies are urged to be on high alert to enforce the road traffic laws and ensure that operators with suspended and cancelled licenses do not ply the roads.
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,”
Sections 51, 52 and 53 of the Road Traffic Act prohibit driving without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for others, negligent or dangerous driving and reckless driving respectively, which violation is a breach of the terms and conditions of the two operators’ licences issued for them to operate in Zimbabwe.