The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has said it was saddened by the death of a secondary school student when a commuter omnibus overturned before Southlea Park turn-off along Simon Mazorodze Road on 9 May 2018.
“We join the relatives and friends of the 12 who were seriously injured in praying for their recovery. PAZ is worried by the continued overloading of kombis, as evidenced by the fact that the kombi that overturned was carrying 23 passengers.
“Such behaviour that is based on profit seeking at the expense of safety is worrisome. School authorities should ensure that pupils are not transported in passenger service vehicles (PSV) that are overloaded, that the PSV is roadworthy, has passenger insurance and the driver of the vehicle has a driver’s and defensive driver’s licence,” said Tafadzwa Goliati, the PAZ President.
PAZ is willing to advice and recommend PSVs to schools. It has been unfruitfully engaging the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on issues concerning passenger rights and safety.
PAZ was concerned that Parliament not been forthcoming in the wake of tragedies such as the Southlea Park accident. The concerns for which it continues to lobby include the need to rehabilitate roads and the chaotic state of Zimbabwe’s transport system.