'No more road permits for kombis,' says Obert Mpofu

Government says it will soon cease to issue road permits to low capacity vehicles to encourage investments in conventional buses in a move set to decongest the cities.

In a move aimed at encouraging the increase of conventional buses on the country's roads to decongest urban areas, government says it will no longer issue permits to low capacity commuter buses commonly known as kombis.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, who was officiating at the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe nationwide march against road carnage, said the number of people who die on the roads is shocking, adding the crafting of a national road safety policy is now at an advanced stage.

The Managing Director of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Mr Obio Chinyere said passengers should know their rights as they play a pivotal role in reducing road accidents.

There were various church organisations and other stakeholders in the transport sector who gave solidarity messages.

Most accidents that occur on the country's roads have been attributed to human error.

The poor state of the roads has also been cited as a contributory factor to road carnage.