News / National
Consultations to phase out kombis begin
04 Jun 2014 at 19:32hrs | Views
The government says it has started wide consultations with transport stakeholders for the purchase of conventional buses as part of measures to phase out kombis.
The consultations are meant to ensure that the government makes an informed decision for the phasing out of 15-seater commuter buses which have caused havoc in the major towns.
Briefing the media in the capital on the announcement of a new board for the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, said there is need for commuter operators to form consortiums so that they can buy conventional buses with the ultimate objective being to instil discipline on the roads.
"We will phase out kombis after wide consultations with stakeholders and we are encouraging the formation of consortiums to get high volume buses," he said.
The seven-member TSCZ board chaired by Mr Nelson Mawema has admitted that there is a lot of work to be done to reduce road carnage.
Mr Mawema said, "We are committed to working towards the reduction of road carnage and this also requires stakeholder participation."
Besides plans to phase out commuter omnibuses, government is also working towards reviewing upwards toll fees while increasing the number of tollgates on the country's highways.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the transport sector are working closely with the government towards creating road awareness among the travelling public to reduce road accidents.
In an interview with the ZBC News on the sidelines of a road accident awareness campaign, Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators Chairman Cosmas Mbojani said there is need for government to hear out the challenges that commuters face on the roads.
"We need commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that there is reduction in accidents across the country than the blame game," he said.
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe managing director Obio Chinyere said 90 percent of road accidents are caused by human error hence the need to deal with the mind of the public which will play an important role in accident reduction.
He said, "The human mind is critical in ensuring that there is behaviour change on the country's major roads to reduce accidents."
The Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Petronella Kagonye, said the initiative is critical in educating the travelling public to know their rights whenever they are travelling.
"People must know their rights such that they can take action against speeding drivers by reporting them to the police," she said.
Zimbabwe recorded 1 780 accidents last year, with 90 per cent of them caused by human error while others were attributed to stray animals.
The consultations are meant to ensure that the government makes an informed decision for the phasing out of 15-seater commuter buses which have caused havoc in the major towns.
Briefing the media in the capital on the announcement of a new board for the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, said there is need for commuter operators to form consortiums so that they can buy conventional buses with the ultimate objective being to instil discipline on the roads.
"We will phase out kombis after wide consultations with stakeholders and we are encouraging the formation of consortiums to get high volume buses," he said.
The seven-member TSCZ board chaired by Mr Nelson Mawema has admitted that there is a lot of work to be done to reduce road carnage.
Mr Mawema said, "We are committed to working towards the reduction of road carnage and this also requires stakeholder participation."
Besides plans to phase out commuter omnibuses, government is also working towards reviewing upwards toll fees while increasing the number of tollgates on the country's highways.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the transport sector are working closely with the government towards creating road awareness among the travelling public to reduce road accidents.
In an interview with the ZBC News on the sidelines of a road accident awareness campaign, Greater Harare Association of Commuter Operators Chairman Cosmas Mbojani said there is need for government to hear out the challenges that commuters face on the roads.
"We need commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that there is reduction in accidents across the country than the blame game," he said.
Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe managing director Obio Chinyere said 90 percent of road accidents are caused by human error hence the need to deal with the mind of the public which will play an important role in accident reduction.
He said, "The human mind is critical in ensuring that there is behaviour change on the country's major roads to reduce accidents."
The Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Petronella Kagonye, said the initiative is critical in educating the travelling public to know their rights whenever they are travelling.
"People must know their rights such that they can take action against speeding drivers by reporting them to the police," she said.
Zimbabwe recorded 1 780 accidents last year, with 90 per cent of them caused by human error while others were attributed to stray animals.
Source - zbc
