Bus drivers fail safety test

, Zimbabwe National Road Authority and the Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Council, the Minister of Transport and Communications Chris Mushowe said government introduced the retesting of public transport drivers’ skills following a spate of road accidents, which claimed the lives of many people last year and were attributed to human error.
“We are testing about 600 per week and out of those about 40%, are failing,” said Mushohwe.
Drivers who fail have their licences withdrawn, as government fears such drivers could put the lives of people at risk.  Mushowe said the exercise was compulsory and all public transport drivers were obliged to undergo re-examination of their competence to drive.  The minister said under the old system the people abused regulations by handing over permits, after satisfying the ZSC and the Vehicle Inspection Department as suitable and competent drivers, to other people without experience to drive safely on the country’s roads.
Such anomalies, Mushohwe said, would only come to light after one driver got involved in accidents.
Mushohwe announced  Ronaldo Jokonya as the new substantive managing director of ZTSC. Prior to his appointment Jokonya was the acting executive director of ZTSC, since 2004.
He also announced the appointment of Francis Taurayi Hwekwete as the new substantive chief executive of ZINARA he had also been acting. Peter Chikumba was appointed chief executive of Air Zimbabwe taking over from Captain Oscar Madombwe who had been acting since November 2005.