'Safety of ex-Japanese people carriers blown out of proportion', operators say

FIERCE debate has ensued over the move to block ex-Japanese people carriers such as Toyota Granvia, Noah, Elgrande, Regius and Ipsum from the public transport system with the operators yesterday saying the issue about the safety of their cars was being blown out of proportion.

The police have said such vehicles were not allowed to ply the country's highways and that owners risk being arrested if found transporting the public, with or without a licence. There are widespread concerns that such vehicles were increasingly involved in fatal accidents and that they were also being used by criminals in robberies and kidnappings.

Drivers of the "condemned" vehicles, who mobbed a Chronicle news crew to air their views on the issue at Mac's Garage in Bulawayo, said the spate of highway accidents should be blamed on the individual drivers and not the vehicles.

Mr Rayond Mawoyo who plies the Bulawayo-Gwanda Road produced his operator's licence and said: "All vehicles are prone to accidents and safety depends on the behaviour of the driver. Our vehicles are safe and that is why we obtained operators' licences from the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID).

He added: "The fact that the operators are given route permits is acceptance that the vehicles are fit to transport the public."
Mr Themba Ndlovu who plies the Bulawayo-Beitbridge route weighed in:  "We should not be treated like criminals when we have all documents legalising our operations. The problem comes from unregistered operators who have faulty vehicles."

The operators said tyre bursts and failure to adhere to road traffic regulations were the main causes of accidents.
"It is true that these vehicles speed but the main problem is with tyres. When we buy these vehicles they come with snow tyres from the cold climate and here in Zimbabwe it is hot," said another driver.

"If the operator does not change the tyres there is a risk that they will burst. Other drivers overload and that causes accidents."
Mr Munyaradzi Sibanda, a marshal at the rank, said since the introduction of the vehicles, the number of accidents has increased and accused the drivers of negligence. "It is unfortunate that at times the drivers will be drunk," he said.

Mr Calvin Ngwenya who also plies the Bulawayo-Gwanda route said uncontrolled competition was fuelling speeding and called for tightening of traffic regulations regarding speed.

Another driver who identified himself as Mr Shiku said: "Pirate taxis and trucks are causing a lot of confusion on the road and often cause drivers to speed as they compete for customers."

Some drivers complained that the move was killing their business with one saying the public was shunning their vehicles following news that they were not allowed to transport the public.

The drivers said they were equally concerned about accidents and suggested that Government puts a law mandating motorists to reduce speed in their vehicles.

Mr Thabani Mangena said: "Drivers should simply stick to the stipulated speed limit and public service vehicles must have their speed capacity gagged. What is lacking is order on the roads."

Citing the economic implications of banning ex-Japanese vehicles, Mr Aaron Mukorera said: "Our cars are very safe and reliable. We feed our families from this work and what we need is for drivers to respect road rules."

The operators also alleged that some of the unregistered vehicles were owned by police officers.
"We are afraid of being victimised but we have names of people who cause problems by operating without licences. Some of them are police officers," said an operator who preferred anonymity.

Transport operators have expressed mixed views over the issue while the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, who acknowledged concerns of dangers of using the vehicles, could not be drawn to comment on the issue yesterday.
"I am busy at the moment, you can get in touch with our Permanent Secretary Mr Munesu Munodawafa or the director in charge of roads and licensing," said Dr Mpofu.

Mr Munodawafa could not be reached on his mobile phone.