Staff Reporter

Government yesterday suspended operating licences for Rimbi Tours and Zebra Kiss bus operators after their drivers recklessly caused a fatal accident while racing with passengers on board.

The accident which took place along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway claimed the life of Rimbi bus conductor who was recording the video which later went viral, sparking uproar from the public.

In a statement yesterday, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona said the two companies disregarded the terms and conditions of their operating licenses.

“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 reasonable 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 Tashllyt Investments Trading as Zebra Kiss from operating all its omnibuses in all the routes as authorised by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

“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 licenses are issued,” said Minister Mhona.

Mhona urged traffic law enforcement agencies to ensure that Rimbi and Zebra Kiss buses are not on the roads and also said the Ministry will take measures against those who wantonly and blatantly violate road traffic rules and regulations.

Minister Mhona said that as the Minister responsible, he has taken a bold stance to reduce road carnages in line with targets contained in the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 (2021-2025) which seeks to reduce road accidents and fatalities by a 25 percent margin per annum.

Meanwhile, Rimbi Tours and Zebra Kiss bus operators have apologised to the nation and said that they take full responsibility for the reckless driving exhibited by their drivers and have since taken internal disciplinary measures while the Police have also instigated appropriate measures.

The two bus operators added that their drivers would immediately be taken for refresher courses to ensure guaranteed safety on the roads.