COMMUTERS in Gwanda have urged the government to immediately ban Toyota Granvia and Regius cars from being used as public transport following yet another road accident that claimed two lives.
REPORT BY ALBERT NCUBE
Two women died on the spot on Monday, while four were critically injured, among them the driver and a baby who lost her mother in the accident. The four were referred to United Bulawayo Hospital were they remain admitted.
A number of people use the second-hand Japanese vehicles as commuter omnibuses and these have been involved in a spate of accidents that have claimed many lives. Many blame them for excessive speeding and lack of stability, as they scramble for passengers.
“These vehicles should be banned immediately as they are killing a lot of people. We cannot have such speeding vehicles being used by the public,” Peter Moyo, a resident of the mining town, said.
Moyo said he had now opted to use buses when travelling as they were safer.Another commuter Tendai Moyo said it was surprising that the Transport ministry was giving permits to transporters to carry 11 passengers when the vehicles were meant for seven people.
“These vehicles are being overloaded and that is the reason why there are too many tyre bursts,” Tendai said.
In April this year, eight people died near Bulawayo when a Toyota Regius, believed to have been speeding, burst a rear tyre and veered off the road.
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According to beforward, a leading car dealer, a Toyota Granvia has seven seats, however, in Gwanda they have been converted to carry as many as 13 passengers.
Innocent Pedze a Granvia driver said there was no reason for the vehicles to be banned, but said there was need for transporters to make sure the vehicles were roadworthy.
“Even the Toyota Hiace has been involved in accidents before, what is needed is for the police to make sure all vehicles are roadworthy, especially the tyres because tyre bursts have been the major cause of these accidents,” said Pedze.
