Suspension of Rimbi, Zebra Kiss just show, netizen...

Suspension of Rimbi, Zebra Kiss just show, netizens tell Mhona

Audrey Galawu

Zimbabwean netizens have weighed in on to the suspension of Rimbi Travel and Tours (Pvt)LTD and Tashllyt Investments (Pvt)LTD with divided responses.

This comes after Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, suspended omnibuses owned by the two companies from operating due to negligence and reckless driving.

While some have applauded Minister Mhona for the swift action, many have felt that the move is just a bow to pressure but will not have any meaningful impact in the long run.

“Hon. Minister, I think there is a need to revisit the decision to suspend the licence of the bus operators. With due respect, it is an arbitrary, harsh irrational and populist decision that is not informed by substance. There are jobs and livelihoods at stake,” tweeted @Dumakwezulu

Others expressed the opinion that there is need for wide sweeping reforms in the transport sector

@Takunda79 wrote, “Suspending these two companies and failure to have proper laws does not work. Buses should have time tables and failure to stick to that should come with heavy penalties. Then we can avoid this.”

The issue of speeding was central with many people calling for regulatory speed capping on all public transport vehicles.

@Tafara18840591 tweeted: “kindly make it a requirement that all buses should be mechanically restricted to legal limits, transport owners should also fit devices that monitor driver performance. These fleet management devices are now standard in many countries. Thank you.”

Simba Pasi said the only solution is to use Information Technology solutions to monitor road activities.

“Trackers linked to @tsz1 will provide real-time violations such that when they occur the police can even call the bus driver and prevent such situations,” he said.

Muvengwa Mutende emphasised on the need to address the fundamentals of driving, namely driver’s license acquisition, defensive driving and retests.

“Yes, Tendai, but can we switch the rectum because of a running stomach? Lets address the fundamentals, why can’t we digitalise and make use of Information Technology on all of the above mentioned, we need a radical approach from the bottom,” Mutende said

Others said that banning the operators is just a public stunt as they are likely to remain in the same business:

“What will stop them from removing the brand stickers , register new companies and rebrand their old buses with the same drivers and be back in business again by tomorrow day end?”queried @zimudzi_vongai.